[CASL-L] Scholastic’s Exaggerated Claim

[IRENE KWIDZINSKI]

FYI


----- Forwarded Message ----
From: "Curtis, Della L." <dcurtis at bcps.org>
To: "aaslforum at ala.org" <aaslforum at ala.org>
Sent: Sat, March 3, 2012 2:30:48 PM
Subject: [aaslforum] RE: Scholastic’s Exaggerated Claim


Love the last line!  
In contrast, Kim (2004) estimated that just reading five books over the summer 
results in a gain of about three percentiles, about the same as the huge 
investment required by Read 180. 

 
It underscores the Dominican researchwe cited on our Summer Reading website, 
http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/summerread/summerread2011.html > 


Back to Articulate . . . it just finished rendering for posting on the web.  
 
Della


 
Della Curtis, Coordinator
Office of Library Information Services
9611 Pulaski Park Dr., Suite 307
Baltimore, MD 21220
410 887-4035
410 887-2968 (fax)
http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis
 
From:Stephen Krashen [mailto:skrashen at yahoo.com] 
Sent: Saturday, March 03, 2012 2:09 PM
To: aasl
Subject: [aaslforum] Scholastic’s Exaggerated Claim
 
Scholastic’s Exaggerated Claim: “US DOE Striving Reader Study Proves READ 180 
Works!” 

Stephen Krashen

A recent ad from Scholastic claims that READ 180 students have made “tremendous 
progress” in three locations: Newark, Springfield Mass, and Ohio, citing a US 
Department of Education report on Striving Readers programs. Scholastic notes 
that differences between READ 180 students and comparisons were not 
significantly different in another site, Memphis.

A look at the actual DOE report shows that the differences between READ 180 
students and comparisons in “regular” classrooms weren’t very large anywhere. 


Newark (grades 6-8): After three years, READ 180 students were only one 
percentile better than comparisons on tests of vocabulary (effect size = .02; 
20th percentile vs. 19th) and comprehension (effect size = .09; 30th percentile 
compared to 29th), and were only two percentiles better on a test of language 
arts (effect size = .12; 20th percentile compared to 18th) (DOE Report, p. 101).

Springfield (grade 9): After one year, READ 180 students were four percentiles 
better than comparisons in reading comprehension (effect size = .11; 20th 
percentile compared to 16th). (DOE Report, p. 87). 


Ohio (grade 9): After one year, READ 180 students were four percentiles better 
than comparisons in reading comprehension (effect size = .26, 15th percentile 
vs. 11th). (DOE Report, p. 84). READ 180 students, however, had 90 minutes of 
language arts each day. The comparisons had 45 minutes of language arts, and 
then had an elective (e.g. math, technology education) for 45 minutes. (DOE 
Report, pages 80, 231). 


These are very small differences, and very disappointing considering the time, 
money, and effort dedicated to READ 180.  Any claim that READ 180 can close the 
achievement gap is unjustified. After one year, READ 180 9th grade students 
moved from the 16th to 20th percentile (Springfield and Ohio). If they maintain 
this pace, they will reach only the 32nd percentile by grade 12. Sixth graders 
gaining two percentiles per year (Newark) will move from the 20th percentile to 
the 32nd by grade 12. 


In contrast, Kim (2004) estimated that just reading five books over the summer 
results in a gain of about three percentiles, about the same as the huge 
investment required by Read 180. 



Sources
Kim, J. 2004. Summer Reading and the Ethnic Achievement Gap. Journal of 
Education for Students Placed at Risk, 9(2):169-188.
DOE Report: Summary of 2006 Striving Readers Projects: Implementation and 
Evaluation of Targeted Interventions for Struggling Readers and Whole School 
Interventions for All Readers: Years 1—4. Abt Associates. Available at 
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/strivingreaders/performance.html
Ad: US DOE Striving Reader Study Proves READ 180 Works! Appeared on ASCD 
Smartbrief March 2, 2012.
Press Release, Scholastic, Nov 15, 2011. Four Years of U.S. Department of 
Education Research Shows "READ 180" Effective in Combating Adolescent 
Illiteracy. 
http://mediaroom.scholastic.com/node/517?EML=PI/eb/20120302/ASCD/banner/USDOEStrivingReaders/Read_the_Release/read180/728x90/
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