Impact of Magnetic Reading in Iowa Schools: Evidence from the 2021–2022 School Year

Published November 2023

Magnetic Reading supports higher grade-level placement. When compared to students from similar schools and with similar baseline scores on the i-Ready Diagnostic, the study found that use of Magnetic Reading was associated with an 11-point advantage in Diagnostic for Reading scores by the end of the school year over those who did not use Magnetic Reading. Daily use of Magnetic Reading as the primary reading comprehension program helps more students move toward or achieve grade-level proficiency. Magnetic Reading helps in meeting grade-level growth targets. Significantly more Magnetic Reading learners met their Typical Growth and Stretch Growth® targets than similar comparison students. Seventy-five percent of Magnetic Reading students met their Typical Growth goals compared to only 61 percent of comparison students. Forty-one percent of Magnetic Reading students met their Stretch Growth goals compared to only 29 percent of comparison students. High-quality instructional materials such as Magnetic Reading support educators in accelerating students’ knowledge and skills development to meet grade-level goals. This report was released November 2023 and has been reviewed by Evidence for ESSA.