Struggling adolescent readers present a significant challenge for school districts across the nation. The Reading Apprenticeship for Academic Literacy Learning (RA4ALL) curriculum offers a potential solution, integrating Reading Apprenticeship and Systematic Instruction in Phonological Awareness, Phonics, and Sight Words (SIPPS® Challenge) to accelerate learning for 8th and 9th graders reading below grade level. This study, a collaboration between WestEd and SRI International, will examine the impact of this combined approach on student outcomes. RA4ALL aims to boost engagement and academic literacy while reinforcing essential reading skills. Participating districts will also receive valuable professional development, empowering teachers with strategies to support struggling readers effectively.
- Academic years 2025-26, 2026-27, and 2027-28
- Professional development work with teachers summer 2025, 2026, and 2027 and ongoing support in classrooms throughout the school years
- Professional development support with instruction/literacy coaches summer 2025, 2026, and 2027 and ongoing support in schools throughout the school years
- Teachers who participate will implement RA4ALL curriculum and attend up to 31 hours of professional learning across two years
- Instructional/literacy coaches of participating teachers attend up to 87 hours of professional learning across two years
- Students build background knowledge, vocabulary, comprehension skills, and fluency
- Teachers improve practices related to Tier II instruction (reading intervention)
- Teachers receive stipends of up to $2000 for professional learning and up to $900 for data collection activities across two years
- Instructional/literacy coaches of implementing teachers receive stipends of up to $3000 for professional learning and up to $500 for data collection activities across two years
- Schools receive access to curriculum for up to three years
- Literacy
- Grades 6–8
- Grades 9–12
- Federal Agency
- MI, TX, MD, NM, UT, NV, CO, NC, PA, IL
- 12–24 months