Back to programs
Math Icon
Reading grades studied

1 – 5

Responsive Classroom – Reading

Essa Rating
promising
No. Studies
2
No. Students
4,293
Average Effect Size
+0.01

Program Description

The Responsive Classroom (RC) is an approach focused on building social-emotional skills in elementary students. It provides extensive professional development to teachers, including a week of training during each of two summers, followed by in-school coaching. RC seeks to embed modeling of prosocial behavior, collaboration, and self-control into daily teaching.

Program Outcomes

Two qualifying studies evaluated RC and reported reading outcomes. One found positive effects at the student level but not the school level. The other found no differences. The effect size across the two studies only averaged +0.01, but according to ESSA standards, the positive outcomes in the first study (effect size = +0.14) qualifies The Responsive Classroom for the ESSA “Promising” category.