i-Ready Personalized Instruction Longitudinal Impact Study—Mathematics

The Human Resources Research Organization (HumRRO) conducted a research study to examine the longitudinal impact of i-Ready Personalized Instruction on students’ mathematics achievement from Grade 3 through Grade 5. This study followed a matched sample of more than 1,250 students split into two groups: students who used both the i-Ready Diagnostic assessment and i-Ready Personalized Instruction with fidelity starting in Grade 3 until the end of their elementary school time in Grade 5 and a matched comparison group of their peers who used the i-Ready Diagnostic only. A quasi-experimental design was used to match students on initial i-Ready Diagnostic performance and key demographics.

The design of this study meets the criteria for ESSA Tier 2 evidence.

While the impact on student achievement after one year and after two years of usage was positive but statistically non-significant, students who consistently used i-Ready Personalized Instruction with fidelity across all three years (Grades 3–5) scored .24 standard deviation units higher than students who did not use the program. This represents a statistically significant and educationally meaningful effect (Hedges' g = .24, p = .02). The .24 treatment effect translates to gains of approximately five to 24 scale score points across the participating states, depending on each state's scaling properties.