12/10/2023

Benefits of Lexia PowerUp Literacy in a Short-Term Implementation

PURPOSE: The aim of this research was to assess the benefits of Lexia® PowerUp Literacy® in a large-scale, experimental study with sixth-grade students across multiple schools in a suburban district.

METHOD: In this randomized control trial study, three schools were assigned to use Lexia® PowerUp Literacy® while two schools were assigned to the control group. The study was initially designed for full-year implementation but reduced to the first half of the school year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Winter scores on STAR Reading served as the outcome measure. Analyses controlled for Fall STAR Reading (an index of prior achievement) as well as students’ socioeconomic status, special education status, English Learner status, gender, and race/ethnicity.

KEY FINDINGS

• PowerUp students scored significantly higher on Winter STAR Reading than students who did not use PowerUp.
• Completing Grammar units was associated with an average gain of 38 points on STAR Reading for students who began the year in PowerUp's foundational levels of Grammar.
• PowerUp students were more likely to move up a benchmark level on STAR Reading than students who did not use PowerUp, and this difference approached statistical significance.