Join us in assessing the Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) Third Edition’s impact on K–5 student literacy outcomes in California and gain free access to the curriculum!
Amplify Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) is a comprehensive early literacy program grounded in the Science of Reading. It offers explicit, systematic instruction in foundational skills and a cumulative knowledge-building approach. The curriculum integrates diverse, high-quality texts; daily writing activities; and engaging phonics resources.
In Amplify CKLA 3rd Edition, educators will find more opportunities for differentiation to meet the needs of all learners, including multilingual/English learners; an updated Knowledge Sequence; streamlined pacing; and bolstered writing instruction anchored in the Science of Writing, the research behind how kids learn to write.
WestEd is conducting a study to explore the impact of Amplify CKLA Third Edition on student literacy outcomes in California. WestEd will be running two evaluations, one for grades K–2 and one for grades 3–5, during the 2025–26 school year.
The study uses a quasi-experimental design to compare the literacy outcomes of students in classrooms that are implementing the CKLA curriculum versus classrooms that are not. More specifically, the study will address the following questions
- What is the effect of 1 year of Amplify CKLA instruction on student literacy outcomes?
- Does this effect differ for specific populations, such as for English Learners and struggling readers?
- What are the beliefs and practices of the teachers that are implementing Amplify CKLA?
Participation Requirements
School Eligibility: Schools in California with K–5 classrooms are eligible for the study.
Option 1: Amplify CKLA Schools: schools that have been implementing Amplify CKLA Second Edition for at least 1 full year and that are interested in implementing CKLA Third Edition in their classrooms in the 2025–26 school year
Requirements:
- Schools will implement Amplify CKLA Third Edition with fidelity in all K–2 or 3–5 classrooms or both.
- Teachers will complete one survey that addresses their beliefs and practices related to implementing CKLA in their classrooms.
- Schools will share student-level literacy outcome data with WestEd for all CKLA classrooms. For grades K–2, this would ideally be mCLASS DIBELS 8 scores at the beginning, middle, and end of the year, but other benchmark assessments may be considered. For grades 3–5, schools will share SBAC results.
- Schools will share student demographic information with WestEd, including ethnicity, English Learner status, and special education status.
Option 2: Comparison Schools: schools that have not been implementing Amplify CKLA and that may be interested in participating in a field trial of Amplify CKLA Third Edition in one of their K–2 or 3–5 classrooms during the 2025–26 school year
Requirements:
- Classrooms will implement a curriculum other than Amplify CKLA and will serve as comparison classrooms.
- Schools will share student-level literacy outcome data with WestEd for all classrooms. For grades K–2, this will ideally be mCLASS DIBELS 8 scores at the beginning, middle, and end of the year, but other benchmark assessments may be considered. For grades 3–5, schools will share SBAC results.
- Schools will share student demographic information with WestEd, including ethnicity, English Learner status, and special education status.
- Optional: Schools will participate in a field trial of Amplify CKLA Third Edition in one of their K–2 or 3–5 classrooms.
- Optional: Teachers who are participating in a field trial of Amplify CKLA in their classrooms will complete one teacher survey that addresses their beliefs and practices related to implementing CKLA in their classrooms.
Participation Benefits
- We will share the study findings and the potential impact of the results with schools participating in the study.
- All Amplify CKLA schools will receive Amplify CKLA Third Edition at no cost for the 2025–26 school year.
- All participating schools (treatment and comparison) will receive Boost Reading, Amplify’s digital literacy supplemental product, for the 2026–27 school year (after the study has been completed). Learn more about Boost Reading here: https://amplify.com/programs/boost-reading/
Participation Compensation
All participating CKLA teachers who complete the teacher survey will receive a monetary incentive of $100 in the form of a gift card issued by WestEd.
Study Timeline
- 2025–26 School Year: baseline data collection, curriculum implementation, and ongoing assessments
- Spring 2026: teacher survey administration
- Summer/Fall 2026: data analysis and reporting phase
- Fall 2026/Winter 2027: final report completion and dissemination to Amplify
Next Steps
Please complete our interested form if you or your colleagues are interested in participating and want to learn more.