In January 2020, Northeast Elementary School educators chose Lexia® Core5® Reading to help K–1 students reading below grade level using grant funding. Although the initial intent was to use the program to bring early readers to proficiency, educators quickly saw the program’s value and expanded implementation to boost reading skills across grades K–4.
Because Core5 can help all readers, regardless of skill level, Northeast educators saw students at all levels tackle tougher reading assignments with confidence after engaging in the program.
- Before educators implemented Core5, the district’s online reading program had students repeat a failed lesson without any additional, differentiated instruction.
- With Core5, students received personalized instruction scaffolded to their needs.
- Built on the science of reading, Core5 is a research-proven program that accelerates the development of literacy skills for students of all abilities, helping them make the critical shift from learning to read to reading to learn.
To accomplish their reading goals, Northeast Elementary educators set time aside daily for “WIN” or “What I Need” time during the day. The school celebrated all students who successfully “leveled up” with certificates to take home and show their parents what they had achieved. To celebrate schoolwide growth, educators at Northwest Elementary displayed a large bar graph in the main hallway showing the percentage of students working on or above grade level each month. They even formed the 21 Club, celebrating any student who completed level 21—the highest level in Core5.
- In 2020–2021, before Core5 implementation, 22% of the district’s students were reading two grades below grade level, and 63% were reading one grade below grade level.
- After the 2021–2022 school year, 92% of students using the program were reading at or above grade level.
Anita Wansley, principal at Northeast Elementary School, felt Core5 was providing an excellent return on investment and helping her students achieve their reading goals. To keep the positive momentum going, Wansley found a way to fund the program after the initial grant expired.
“As principals and administrators, there’s a lot of great stuff out there and we have to figure out what we have the budget for. It’s about the bang for the buck,” Wansley said. “I would highly recommend Core5 because it works exceptionally well and is easy to use.”
To learn more about how this investment in Core5 paid off, read the case study.
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