Reading Recovery/Early Literacy Program 1991-92, Private Industry Council. Final Evaluation Report

A study evaluated the effectiveness of the Reading Recovery/Early Literacy program, which provided early intervention to underachieving first-grade pupils. A trained Reading Recovery teacher assigned to the program at each of 2 elementary schools daily taught 3 Reading Recovery pupils for 30 minutes each and 4 Early Literacy groups of 5 to 6 pupils for 40 to 45 minutes each. The Reading Recovery part of the program featured individualized one-on-one lessons and the Early Literacy part featured small group sessions involving reading and writing activities. Data collected in four major areas was incorporated in the analyses of the three desired outcomes: pupil census information, pupil text reading level achievement, pupil retainee information, and parent involvement information. Results indicated that all three desired outcomes were met: (1) all Reading Recovery treatment group pupils and 21 (72.4%) of the Early Literacy treatment group reached level 8 during Scott Foresman text reading level testing; (2) all Reading Recovery pupils and 22 (78.6%) of the Early Literacy group pupils with available retention data were promoted to grade 2; and (3) all Reading Recovery pupils and 28 of the 29 Early Literacy pupils had parents who participated in the program. Findings suggest continuation of the program. (One table of data is included; a Concepts about Print scoring sheet, a dictation scoring sheet, the selection score matrix, the teacher census form, a calendar worksheet/parent involvement log, and a pupil data sheet are attached.) (RS)