Protocol: An efficacy randomized controlled trial of Reciprocal Reading in high schools

This paper presents the research protocol for an efficacy randomized controlled trial of the Reciprocal Reading program in high schools. The program is a workforce development program that supports Teachers and Teaching Assistants develop and deliver targeted reading comprehension instruction to high school students aged 11–13. The protocol outlines a Level 2 exploratory randomized controlled trial research design to assess whether the program delivered over approximately 6 months improves reading outcomes, in a sample of 311 children from 14 schools in four English districts with high socio-economic disadvantage. The primary outcome measure for analysis is reading comprehension with secondary outcomes of overall literacy and reading accuracy. A process evaluation will measure fidelity to implementation and potential for scale-up.