Evaluation of Curriculum Associates’ Literacy Portfolio: Quasi-Experimental Effects on Grades K–5 Student Literacy Outcomes

To explore the impact of The Literacy Portfolio by i-Ready, an independent, third-party researcher conducted this study to compare the i-Ready Diagnostic performance of students with access to The Literacy Portfolio and similar students without access to The Literacy Portfolio. The study was designed to meet the criteria for ESSA Tier 3 evidence.

This research found that there was a significant, positive effect of using The Literacy Portfolio on i-Ready Diagnostic for Reading scores for the sample as a whole and for all grades individually. On average, students in the treatment group scored about seven points higher on the spring i-Ready Diagnostic than similar students in the comparison group. Students in the treatment group were also more likely to meet Typical Growth and Stretch Growth® targets than similar students in the comparison group.

Grades K–2 students and 3–5 students in the treatment group scored significantly higher on the i-Ready Diagnostic’s Phonics and Comprehension subscales, respectively, than the comparison group.