Phonological Awareness Lessons Research Study: Kindergarten, 2022-2023, Final Report

This study measures the impact of 95 Percent Group's Phonological Awareness Lessons (PA Lessons), an intervention program designed for kindergartners for Tier 2 or 3. The study is a replication of a study conducted in the same medium-sized school district in California during 2021-2022. Students Below or Well Below Benchmark in Fall 2022 were assessed with Acadience? Reading was used to compare literacy growth from 2022-2023 using a quasi-experimental design, aligning with Moderate evidence standards associated with ESSA Level. The study follows 536 kindergarten students from 11 schools, 260 in the treatment group, and 276 in the comparison group. The demographic characteristics of the comparison group included 56% males, 3% with special education (SPED) status, 45% English Language Learners (ELL), 88% were Hispanic, and 24% identified as foster/homeless. Similarly, the treatment group demographics comprise 51% males, 2% with SPED status, 36% ELL, 87% were Hispanic, and 21% identified as foster/homeless. Results showed that using PA Lessons substantially impacted student growth for Tiers 2 & 3 across the school year with a Cohen's d effect size .84, which is more than twice as large as previous studies. PA Lesson schools reduced Well Below Grade Level by 25 percentage points from Fall to Spring (72% to 47%). Alternatively, comparison schools only reduced the group by 20 percentage points from Fall to Spring (79% to 59%). Notably, an additional 10% of students ended the year At or Above Benchmark for the grade level (36% PA Lessons vs. 26% Other Schools).