WWC Quick Review: Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) December 2008

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What is this study about?

This study examined the effect of the Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) professional development curriculum on the reading achievement of second graders.

The authors examined data on more than 5,000 second graders from ninety elementary schools in four states during the 2005–06 school year.

Study schools were randomly assigned to one of three groups: one in which teachers received training following the LETRS curriculum, another where they received the LETRS training as well as ongoing instructional coaching, and a third where the teachers received the standard professional development available in their district. Thirty schools were assigned to each research group.

The study measured effects by comparing the standardized reading test scores of students from each of the three groups of schools.

What did the study authors report?

Providing second-grade teachers reading instruction training using the LETRS curriculum (with or without the instructional coaches) did not increase the reading test scores of their students.

The authors estimated effect sizes that ranged from 0.03 to 0.08. These estimates were not statistically significant.

WWC quick reviews are based on the evidence published in the report cited and rely on effect sizes and significance levels as reported by study authors. WWC does not confirm study authors’ findings or contact authors for additional information about the study. The WWC rating refers only to the results summarized above and not necessarily to all results presented in the study.