WWC review of this study

Expanding the Expository Reading and Writing Curriculum: An Evaluation of an Investing in Innovation Validation Grant

Fong, Anthony; Porterfield, Anne; Skjoldhorne, Susann; Hadley, Lucy (2022). WestEd. Retrieved from: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED621317

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
     examining 
    7,093
     Students
    , grades
    11-12

Reviewed: March 2023

At least one finding shows strong evidence of effectiveness
At least one statistically significant positive finding
Meets WWC standards without reservations
General Literacy Achievement outcomes—Statistically significant positive effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Cambium Assessment's Grade 11 ELA/Literacy PT Interim Comprehensive Assessment

Expository Reading and Writing Course (ERWC) vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Grade: 12 (Students who took the grade 11 Performance Task Section of the Cambium Interim Comprehensive Assessment);
1,848 students

3.82

3.48

No

--

Non-Performance Task ELA/Literacy Interim Comprehensive Assessment

Expository Reading and Writing Course (ERWC) vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Grade: 11 (Students who took the Non-Performance Task ELA/Literacy Interim Comprehensive Assessment);
1,122 students

0.14

-0.05

Yes

 
 
6
 

Cambium Assessment's Grade 11 ELA/Literacy Non-PT Interim Comprehensive Assessment

Expository Reading and Writing Course (ERWC) vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Grade: 12 (Students who took the Non-Performance Task portion of Cambium's Interim Comprehensive Assessment);
2,268 students

0.01

0.01

No

--

Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment

Expository Reading and Writing Course (ERWC) vs. Business as usual

0 Days

Grade: 11 (Students who took the full grade 11 Smarter Balanced ELA/Literacy Summative Assessment);
1,855 students

2571.57

2564.09

No

--


Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.

Characteristics of study sample as reported by study author.


  • 9% English language learners

  • Female: 45%
    Male: 55%

  • Rural, Suburban, Town, Urban
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    California, Washington
  • Race
    Other or unknown
    79%
    White
    21%
  • Ethnicity
    Hispanic    
    68%
    Not Hispanic or Latino    
    32%
  • Eligible for Free and Reduced Price Lunch
    Other or unknown    
    100%

Setting

The study took place in grade 11 and 12 English classes in California and Washington. In California, 43 high schools in 26 school districts participated. These schools were located in Northern and Southern California, as well as the Central Valley and Coast. In Washington, six high schools in six school districts participated. They were located in Western and Eastern Washington. Schools were located in city, suburban, town, and rural areas.

Study sample

The 11th grade students who took the non-performance task had a higher percentage of male (57%) compared to female students (43%). Most were Hispanic (71%), followed by White (18%), Asian (3%), Black or African American (2%), or another race (1%). Most did not have ELL status (89%) or special education status (92%). The 11th grade students who took the Smarter Balanced Assessment had a higher percentage of male (51%) compared to female students (48%). Most were Hispanic (66%), followed by White (19%), Asian (5%), Black or African American (4%), or another race (5%). Most did not have ELL status (88%) or special education status (91%). For the 12th grade students who took the non-performance task most were male (56%) compared to female (44%). Most were Hispanic (73%), White (17%), or another race (10%). Most did not have ELL status (91%) or special education status (93%). For the 12th grade students who took the performance task most were male (57%) compared to female (43%). Most were Hispanic (65%), White (25%), or another race (10%). Most did not have ELL status (95%) or special education status (90%).

Intervention Group

The Expository Reading and Writing Curriculum (ERWC) is a college-preparatory English language arts (ELA) curriculum supported by professional learning. The curriculum has 67 modules, 28 of which were for grade 11, 27 were for grade 12, and 14 were for both grades 11 and 12. Of these, grade 11 teachers used two issue modules, one book module, one drama module, and one foundational document module; grade 12 teachers used three issue modules, one book module, and one drama module. Grade 11 and 12 teachers taught three mini modules.

Comparison Group

The comparison condition received business as usual, which included several commercial curricula: CollegeBoard: SpringBoard (2018), Holt: Literature and Language Arts (2012), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt: Collections (2017), McGraw-Hill: StudySync (2017), and Savvas (formerly Pearson) MyPerspectives (2017). Some grade 11 teachers (40%) and grade 12 teachers (43%) indicated that they did not use commercial curricula.

Support for implementation

Teachers were trained in a summer institute before the school year, coached five times during the year, and participated in a community of practice throughout the year. Coaching sessions were intended to include a planning conversation, a classroom visit, and reflective conversation. Starting in March 2020 the coaching visits were held virtually because of COVID-19. Community of practice meetings also moved online due to COVID.

 

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