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What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Documents Reading Recovery’s Scientific Research Base
 

The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) a branch of the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), released an updated report of research in December 2008. WWC’s authoritative and independent assessment confirmed that Reading Recovery is an effective intervention based on scientific evidence.

At the end of this second-round review, Reading Recovery is still the only beginning reading program to receive high ratings across all four domains evaluated: alphabetics, fluency, comprehension, and general reading achievement. Reading Recovery ranks number one in general reading achievement.

The WWC found that Reading Recovery has positive effects—the WWC’s highest rating—on students’ alphabetics skills and general reading achievement. They found potentially positive effects, their next highest level of evidence, on fluency and comprehension outcomes.

The report includes an improvement index to reflect the strength of the Reading Recovery intervention. Scores on this index can range from -50 to +50. The improvement index scores for Reading Recovery students show large and impressive effect sizes.

Related links

Response to WWC Announcement on Effectiveness with English Language Learners (12/15/09)

RRCNA Press Release on What Works Clearinghouse Report (12/2/2008)

RRCNA Press Release on What Works Clearinghouse Report (3/19/2007)

Research on Reading Recovery’s Effectiveness

Other Research Reviews on Reading Recovery