Book Description

Abstract: The present study examines the effects that the READ 180 intervention program had on at-risk high school students. For the purpose of this study students identified as at risk were subjected to criteria set by the district, and included English Language Learners, Special Education Students and students who were economically disadvantaged. Other students who met the set criteria included students who failed to pass their third administration of TAKS or TAKS in the 8th grade, 9th graders who received 2100 or less, and second year 9th grade students who failed TAKS or TAKS A as 9th graders. The intervention focused on improving students' reading proficiency levels by observing the effects the program had on students' reading Lexile Levels and TAKS scores upon completing the READ 180 program. The data collected was preexisting data of 62 students who received the intervention for a period of one school semester. The participants spent a total of 90-minutes a day receiving reading intervention that focused on the application of mixed method instruction including: teacher-led whole-group instruction, small group instruction, modeled and independent reading, and interaction with instructional software. The sample use din the study involved five READ 180 classes from two different campuses within a school district in South Texas. The data were gathered and observed to examine the degree of improvement students experiences in reading comprehension during the course of the six months. The result of the study indicated that READ 180 did have and effect on student reading proficiency based on the student's pretest and posttest reading Lexile Levels and TAKS scores. The data show that, based on the reading Lexile pretest scores administered in January 2010 and posttest administered in April 2010, students averaged a gain of 50.9L. Participants also showed and increase in TAKS scores. Pretests of TAKS exams administered in Spring of 2009 showed that 6.5% of students passed TAKS. The examination of posttest exams administered in Spring of 2010 indicated that 37.1% of students passed their TAKS exams. On average 80.6% of the sample reported gains. Based on the results presented by the pre-and posttest data the research concluded that the interventions presented b the READ 180 program had a positive effect on reading levels of the sample population. The researcher further concluded that the READ 180 intervention program has the potential to provide the school district with researched-based instructional techniques needed to improve the reading proficiency levels of at-risk high school students. As a result of the study, the researcher recommended that the school district consider moving forward with the use of the READ 180 program.