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Overview1
Failure Free Reading is a language development program designed to improve vocabulary, fluency, word recognition, and reading comprehension for kindergarten through grade 12 students who score in the bottom 15% on standardized tests and who have not responded to conventional beginning reading instruction. The three key dimensions of the program are repeated exposure to text, predictable sentence structures, and story concepts that require minimal prior knowledge. The program combines systematic, scripted teacher instruction, talking software, workbook exercises, and independent reading activities. The program is delivered through small group or individual instruction.
Research
One study of Failure Free Reading met the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) evidence standards. This study included 93 students from third grade in Pennsylvania. 2
The WWC considers the extent of evidence for Failure Free Reading to be small for alphabetics, fluency, and comprehension. No studies that met WWC evidence standards with or without reservations addressed general reading achievement.
Effectiveness
Failure Free Reading was found to have no discernible effects on alphabetics and fluency, and potentially positive effects on comprehension.
| Alphabetics | Fluency | Comprehension | General reading achievement | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating of effectiveness | No discernible effects | No discernible effects | Potentially positive effects | na |
| Improvement index3 | Average: +1 percentile points Range: –3 to +7 percentile points |
Average: +2 percentile points | Average: +10 percentile points Range: +7 to +14 percentile points |
na |
| na = not applicable | ||||
2 The evidence presented in this report is based on available research. Findings and conclusions may change as new research becomes available.
3 These numbers show the average and range of student-level improvement indices for all findings in the study.
