A partnership between the
Tennessee Department of Education
and the University of Tennessee.
AIM ONE: Teachers’ Professional Learning
Purpose:
This evaluation will examine the relationship between district and teacher participation in professional development activities provided through Tennessee’s reading initiatives and student performance on reading measures. The aim is to determine whether participation in different learning opportunities is associated with better student reading outcomes.
Reports and Documentation:
AIM TWO: Instructional Materials
Purpose:
This evaluation will examine the patterns in school districts’ and public charters’ selection of particular HQIM for literacy in Grades K-10. The aims are to determine how HQIM differ, how districts adopt and implement HQIM, and whether differences in HQIM and district characteristics are associated with student outcomes.
Reports and Documentation:
- Patterns of Adopting HQIM Report and Executive Summary Infographic
- Educator Perceptions of HQIM Alignment, Adoption, and Implementation in Grades K-5 Report and Executive Summary Infographic
- Kindergarten and First-Grade HQIM Alignment with Research on Code-Focused Instruction: Infographic
- Early Literacy HQIM Review Guide: Protocol for Reviewing Code-Focused Instructional Materials in Kindergarten and First Grade
AIM THREE: Analysis of the Literacy Materials Implementation Support Grants
Purpose:
The purpose of this aim is to evaluate and examine the direct support and additional resources provided for up to sixty (60) districts receiving grant funds, focusing on adolescent literacy practices (Grades 5-12) and strengthening Tier I instruction with high-quality instructional materials implemented by the district. Data collection will include TCAP literacy achievement, Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS) literacy growth, and other data as appropriate.
AIM FOUR: Analysis of Summer Programming
Purpose:
The purpose of this evaluation is to examine the influence of participating in summer programming on students’ Universal Reading Screener (URS) and TCAP performance from Grades 3 to 4. Depending upon the quality and completeness of available data, the analyses may address pre- to post-summer programming performance and comparisons of participants with equivalent peers who did not participate in summer programming.
SPECIAL PROJECT: Tutoring Study
Purpose:
This project is designed to evaluate Title 1 expenditures in newly designated priority schools (i.e., those in the school improvement process) on literacy efforts and student literacy data in order to make recommendations about strengthening the programming and support for students. Participating schools will serve students in Grades K-5.
SPECIAL PROJECT: Priority Schools Study
Purpose:
For this project, the TRRC will design and conduct a comprehensive research study assessing the impact of TN ALL Corps Tutoring on student academic growth and achievement, with a specific emphasis on high-dosage tutoring in English language arts. Data included in this study will be limited to Grades 3–5 and cover the period from the 2021-2022 through 2025-2026 school years.
OVERALL SCOPE OF WORK
The Tennessee Reading Research Center serves as a partner to the Tennessee Department of Education by evaluating and independently analyzing the effects of statewide literacy initiatives.