This research investigated the immediate and long-term effects of a Tier 2 intervention for beginning readers identified as having a high probability of reading failure using a randomized control trial. First-grade participants (n = 123) were randomly assigned either to a 25-session intervention targeting key reading components, including decoding, spelling, word recognition, fluency, and comprehension, or to a no-treatment control condition. Analyses of immediate posttests (end of first grade) indicated significant differences in measures of Decodable Word Fluency (effect size = .40) favoring the intervention group. Within the intervention group, tutor ratings of attention were significantly related to growth in Passage Reading Fluency and Spelling Fluency. Longitudinal assessments (end of second grade) indicated no significant differences by group. Analysis of responder status indicated that students defined as responders maintained gains to the end of second grade.
Publication
Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, 7(1), 28–53
Link to study
Year of Study
2014
Subject
Literacy
Program Evaluated
Tier 2 Intervention
Tutor Type
Paraprofessional
Duration
12 weeks
Sample size
123
Grade Level(s)
1st Grade
Student-Tutor Ratio
3
Effect Size
0.11
Study Design
Randomized Controlled Trial
Case, L., Speece, D., Silverman, R., Schatschneider, C., Montanaro, E., & Ritchey, K. (2014). Immediate and Long-Term Effects of Tier 2 Reading Instruction for First-Grade Students With a High Probability of Reading Failure. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, 7(1), 28–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/19345747.2013.786771