Impact Evaluation of Training in Multi-Tiered Systems of Support for Reading in Early Elementary School
Contract Information
Current Status:
Ongoing
Duration:
September 2018 – November 2028
Cost:
$40,947,225
Contract Number:
91990018C0046
Contractor(s):
American Institutes for Research
Instructional Research Group
School Readiness Consulting
Contact:
With a third of US students failing to develop foundational reading skills by 4th grade, calls have grown to renew the focus on this critical learning and to use scientifically-based teaching methods. Many elementary schools are seeking to adopt a more strategic approach to improve the quality of reading instruction and the ways struggling students are identified and provided with extra help. These efforts, often under the umbrella term multi-tiered systems of support for reading (MTSS-R), rely on outside training and technical assistance to strengthen core reading instruction for all students (Tier I) and the systematic and targeted use of supplemental supports for those who need it (Tier II). The U.S. Department of Education has promoted MTSS-R as a broad approach to school improvement and to addressing equitable access to learning opportunities, but through this study seeks more evidence about its effectiveness on a large scale. The study evaluates two promising strategies that differ in the way they help teachers with instruction of the core curriculum and in how closely that curriculum is linked to the supplemental support. They also differ on whether the supplemental support pre-teaches the core curriculum or uses an alternative curriculum with lessons tailored to student needs.
- Does the study's MTSS-R training and technical assistance (TA) affect students' reading skills and achievement, both initially and over time? Does it help students identified as struggling in reading make more significant gains? Do the effects differ across the two strategies?
- Are the effects on reading related to schools' experiences implementing the MTSS-R strategies, including the extent to which they carry out the strategies as intended and their use of key instructional practices?
- In what ways do these strategies affect the identification of special education students? What are their outcomes?
Approximately 140 schools were randomly assigned to one of the MTSS-R training and TA strategies or to continue with their usual reading instruction and supports. The study's training and TA is being provided for teachers in grades 1 and 2 across three school years, 2021–2022 through 2023–2024. Data collection includes: (1) study-administered assessments of students in grades 1 and 2 to identify struggling students and to estimate effects on their foundational reading skills; (2) student records to estimate longer-term effects on these students' reading achievement; (3) staff surveys and observations of Tier I and II practice to provide information about instruction and the extent of staff training and TA; and (4) documentation of program implementation.
The first product for the study is expected in 2025 and will be announced on https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/.
Key findings will be available after the study report is published.