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Journeys: Randomized Control Trial (RCT), Grades K–3 (Year 2)

At a glance

  • Strong Evidence
  • Program: Journeys
  • Subject: Literacy Curriculum
  • Report Type: Efficacy Study, Study Conducted by Third Party
  • Grade Level: Elementary
  • Region: Northeast, Southeast, Southwest
  • Population: Free or Reduced-Price Lunch, English Learners
  • Race/Ethnicity: Black, Hispanic, White
  • District Urbanicity: Urban, Suburban
  • Participants: N=700
  • Outcome Measure: Iowa Tests of Basic Skills® (ITBS®)
  • Implementation: 1 to 3 hours, daily
  • Evaluation Period: 2011–2013
  • Study Conducted by: Planning, Research, and Evaluation Services (PRES Associates, Inc.)

Abstract

PRES Associates, Inc. conducted a two-year randomized control trial (RCT) of HMH Journeys (2012) during the 2011–2012 and 2012–2013 school years in four states. The analytic sample included six elementary schools (Grades K–3), 46 classrooms (20 control and 26 treatment), and 700 students (313 control and 387 treatment). Results showed significant growth across both study years, as measured by the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) reading and language arts assessment. Specifically, students using Journeys showed significant growth from Fall 2011 to Spring 2013 on all outcome measures. In addition, Journeys students significantly outperformed the control group students on several measures, including reading comprehension and vocabulary. Analysis of subgroup performance showed Journeys students showed greater learning gains than control students from the same demographic subgroup.