Education Endowment Foundation:Accelerated Reader – first trial

Accelerated Reader – first trial

Broadgreen High School, Thornaby Academy,Tideway
Implementation costThe cost estimates in the Toolkits are based on the average cost of delivering the intervention.
Evidence strengthThis rating provides an overall estimate of the robustness of the evidence, to help support professional decision-making in schools.
Impact (months)The impact measure shows the number of additional months of progress made, on average, by children and young people who received the intervention, compared to similar children and young people who did not.
+3
months
Project info

Independent Evaluator

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Durham University
A web-based programme that encourages children to read for pleasure.
Pupils: 349 Schools: 4 Grant: £147,000
Key Stage: 3 Duration: 3 year(s) Type of Trial: Efficacy level evidence
Completed January 2015

This page covers the first (efficacy) trial of Accelerated Reader, which tested whether it could work in schools under best possible conditions. To read about the second (effectiveness) trial – testing a scalable model under everyday conditions in a large number of schools – click here.

Accelerated Reader (AR) is a reading management and monitoring programme that aims to foster independent reading. The internet-based software assesses reading age, and suggests books that match pupils’ needs and interests. Pupils take computerised quizzes on the books and earn AR points as they progress.

Accelerated Reader

EEF Summary

Accelerated Reader is widely used in England, but much of the evidence for the approach comes from the US. The EEF funded this evaluation to see if it could have an impact in English secondary schools. This is one of a number of small trials developed by EEF and designed to improve outcomes for struggling readers at the transition from primary to secondary school.

The study found that Year 7 pupils who were offered Accelerated Reader made 3 months’ additional progress in reading compared to other similar pupils. For pupils eligible for free school meals the figure was 5 months’ additional progress.

For weaker readers, the approach appears to contribute towards catch-up at the start of secondary school, although pupils at very low levels of reading may need initial support from teachers to benefit, if they are not independent readers.

Based on the promising findings from this small study, EEF has now funded an effectiveness trial, to see if the results can be replicated for a larger number of schools

Evaluation Conclusions

  1. Accelerated Reader appears to be effective for weaker readers as a catch-up intervention at the start of secondary school.
  2. A well-stocked library with a wide collection of books banded according to the Accelerated Reader readability formula, and easy access to computers with internet connection, are the main requirements for successful implementation.
  3. Pupils at very low levels of reading may not be independent readers and would need initial support from teacher to start reading books.
  4. Schools can lead robust evaluations of their own planned interventions, under favourable circumstances, and with some advice and oversight from expert evaluators.
Outcome/​Group
ImpactThe size of the difference between pupils in this trial and other pupils
SecurityHow confident are we in this result?
Reading
+3
Months' progress
Reading (FSM)
+5
Months' progress
N/A

Were the schools in the trial similar to my school?

The project involved four urban, mixed gender, secondary schools. Three of them were rated by OFSTED as ​“requiring improvement”, while the final school was rated as ​“good”.

Around 35% of the pupils in the project schools were eligible for free school meals.

Could I implement this in my school?

Accelerated Reader is available from Renaissance Learning.

For the intervention tested here, 15 staff (teachers, TAs and literacy co-ordinators) from each school attended one day of training

Accelerated Reader requires space in the timetable for independent reading and schools may also need to increase the number of books in the school library

How much will it cost?

Accelerated Reader costs £450 per year for 50 pupils, or £9 per pupil per year. This covers the annual licence needed for each participating pupil (the minimum subscription is for 50 pupils), one day of teacher training and year-long access to a free hotline telephone service.

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