Program Description
Istation Reading is a computer-adaptive testing and supplemental reading program for students from prekindergarten through Grade 8. Based on the science of reading, it assesses phonemic awareness, reading comprehension, listening comprehension, letter knowledge, alphabetic decoding, fluency, spelling, and vocabulary. The assessment adapts the difficulty of questions based on student responses and provides teachers with reports identifying students’ strengths and areas for improvement.
After completing the assessment, students are routed into an online curriculum based on their performance. Teachers receive information to support small-group instruction and lessons for struggling readers. Istation recommends 30–40 minutes of supplemental curriculum use per week.
Program Outcomes
The impact of Istation Reading was evaluated in two quasi-experimental studies involving over 2,000 students in Grades 2–7.
In the first study, students in a small-city South Carolina district were compared with similar students identified through NWEA’s Similar Schools Report. The study population was predominantly Black and White, and about two-thirds of students were economically disadvantaged. Students generally averaged about 15–16 hours of total Istation use per year. Istation students had significantly greater growth on NWEA MAP Reading than comparison students (effect size = +0.06).
The second study included 884 students in Grades 5–7 from 11 schools in a large urban Texas district. The sample was 56% Hispanic, 26% Black, 13% Asian, 87% eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, nearly 60% emergent bilingual, and 12% receiving special education services. Students with any recorded Istation curriculum usage were matched with students in the same schools who had no recorded usage. Students using Istation scored significantly higher on STAAR Reading (effect size = +0.10).
Across the two studies, the weighted mean effect size was +0.08. The results qualify Istation Reading for a Promising evidence rating.
Staffing Requirements
Istation is designed for use in classrooms, and can be implemented by teachers, interventionists, or paraprofessionals.
Professional Development/Training
A variety of professional learning is available to train teachers, instructional coaches, principals, and others. Formats include virtual and in-person training. Professional Development sessions are conducted by qualified professionals with classroom experience.
Technology
Students can use Istation on desktops or tablets.