At Evidence for ESSA this quarter...

Amidst the downsizing in the U.S. Department of Education, we want to reassure our audience that our Center for Research and Reform in Education at Johns Hopkins University will be continuing and expanding our Evidence for ESSA reviews of studies that show rigorous evidence support for educational programs. Please consider sharing the signup link for our newsletter with your colleagues and/or school districts.

New EfE Listings

• Bridges in Mathematics, a curriculum that emphasizes conceptual understanding, fluency, discourse, and problem solving, received a Moderate rating for two quasi-experimental studies, one of K-2 and one of K-5 students. 
• Air Reading, who already had a Strong evidence rating, was updated to incorporate a second randomized study, this one involving second and fourth graders in Louisiana. Air Reading is a live, virtual tutoring program.
• Learning Genie received Promising evidence ratings in both Reading and Math for a study of its effects in pre-K and K. Learning Genie is a platform that incorporates AI to help teachers plan lessons using Universal Design for Learning principles and to document progress. 
• Lexia English Language Development received a Moderate evidence rating for a study of its effects on English Learners in grades 1-5. LELD is designed to accelerate academic English, combining teacher-led activities with technology that uses speech recognition to provide students immediate feedback during listening and speaking.
• Just Right Reader Take-Everywhere Literacy Packs received a Moderate evidence rating for a study of 399 kindergarteners in six Texas schools. Each Literacy Pack contains books personalized to each student’s phonics skill level, plus writing practice. Students first learn from teachers and then take packs home for continued practice with family support.
• Math 180 received a Moderate evidence rating for two studies, one randomized examining sixth grade, and one matched examining 5-8 graders. Math 180 is a targeted math intervention program that builds algebra readiness in core or dedicated intervention classrooms.
• Simple Solutions Learning – Standards-Based Math, a supplemental spiral review program, received a Promising evidence rating for a study of its effects in grades 3-5 math in rural Kentucky.