MDRC’s evaluation of two supplemental literacy classes for ninth-graders, The Enhanced Reading Opportunities Study: Findings from the Second Year of Implementation, has been reviewed by the U.S. Department of Education’s What Works Clearinghouse. In one of its "quick reviews," the Clearinghouse describes the study as “a well-implemented randomized controlled trial” that meets its high standards of evidence.

The MDRC study, which is being conducted for the Institute of Education Sciences in 34 high schools, is testing two supplemental literacy programs — full-year courses targeted to students whose reading skills are two to five years below grade level as they enter high school. The classes, designed to serve 12-15 students, replace a ninth-grade elective, and they are offered in addition to students’ regular English/language arts classes. The programs seek to help ninth-grade students learn and employ the strategies used by proficient readers, improve their comprehension skills, and increase their motivation to read more and to enjoy what they read.

The second-year report, which was reviewed by the What Works Clearinghouse, found that the supplemental literacy programs had a positive and statistically significant impact on students’ reading comprehension test scores. The average student in the study sample started the year reading at a grade-level equivalent of 4.9. Those students assigned to the literacy classes were reading at a 6.1 grade equivalent by the end of the year, compared with a 6.0 grade equivalent for students in the control group. Even though the students in ERO classes showed improvement in reading comprehension, however, 77 percent of them were still reading at two or more years below grade level at the end of ninth grade.

A report on the third year of the Enhanced Reading Opportunities Study is expected in early 2010.

The What Works Clearinghouse was established in 2002 by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences to provide educators, policymakers, researchers, and the public with a central and trusted source of scientific evidence of what works in education. The Clearinghouse is administered by the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences through a contract with Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.