A Multisite Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effectiveness of Descubriendo la Lectura

We present findings from a randomized controlled trial of Descubriendo la Lectura (DLL), an intervention designed to improve the literacy skills of Spanish-speaking first graders, who are struggling with reading. DLL offers one-on-one native language literacy instruction for 12 to 20 weeks to each school’s lowest performing first-graders. Examining literacy outcomes for 187 students, hierarchical linear model analyses revealed statistically significant effects of student-level assignment to DLL on all 9 outcomes evaluated. Impacts were as large as 1.24 standard deviations, or a learning advantage relative to controls exceeding a full school year of achievement growth. The mean effect size of d = 0.66 across the nine literacy measures is equal to approximately two thirds of the overall literacy growth that occurs across the first-grade year.
Authors citation
Borman, G. D., Borman, T. H., Park, S. J., & Houghton, S.
Publication
American Educational Research Journal
Year of Study
2019
Subject
Literacy
Program Evaluated
Descubriendo la Lectura (DLL)
Tutor Type
Teacher
Duration
16 weeks
Sample size
132
Grade Level(s)
1st Grade
Student-Tutor Ratio
1
Effect Size
0.55
Study Design
Randomized Controlled Trial
Borman, G. D., Borman, T. H., Park, S. J., & Houghton, S. (2019). A Multisite Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effectiveness of Descubriendo la Lectura. American Educational Research Journal