Current Challenge
Middle school students need to gain foundational literacy skills and reading comprehension strategies through engaging curriculum and peer collaboration. At the same time, growth in literacy requires building knowledge and skills through reading a broad range of complex academic and workplace texts across multiple content areas.
Teachers need more resources to help students engage in and persevere with problem-solving and text-based reasoning with opportunities for independent and collaborative learning.
Purpose
WestEd is pleased to invite school districts to collaborate on an effort to support 8th and 9th grade students in developing literacy skills. RA4ALL is an EIR-funded project that will combine curriculum and professional learning designed to accelerate reading and academic achievement for 8th and 9th graders reading below grade level.
This project builds on the evidence-based Reading Apprenticeship program and incorporates additional foundational skills instruction by integrating the Systematic Instruction in Phonological Awareness, Phonics, and Sight Words (SIPPS). This integration addresses disciplinary reading comprehension practices necessary for success in content-area classes as well as the foundational skills necessary for building fluency and stamina.
Key Activities
- Engage in collaborative, enjoyable, evidence-based professional learning and coaching, both in-person and online
- Learn to enact highly designed curriculum with teacher guides, peer and expert support
- Learn ways to establish a positive, collaborative classroom culture
- Receive Continuing Education Credits
Audiences and Eligible Participants
Eligible participants must be in one of these states: Illinois, New Mexico, Maryland, Michigan, Texas, Utah, Nevada, North Carolina, or Pennsylvania
Learn more about eligibility requirements and see a detailed professional learning schedule.
Compensation
Stipends are available for professional learning and data collection activities.
About the Research
Within participating districts, schools will be randomly assigned to “early-start” (treatment) and “late-start” (control) groups. Schools in the early-start group will participate in RA4ALL professional learning starting in 2025-26 and continuing into 2026-27. Schools in the late-start group will participate in RA4ALL professional learning in Summer 2027. All participating teachers at study schools, both early- and late-start, will participate in evaluation activities.
Study Director
Misty Sailors
Funder
RA4ALL is an EIR-funded project. An independent research organization, SRI Education, will be leading the RA4ALL evaluation. SRI will examine the effects of RA4ALL on teachers’ perceptions of the curriculum, teachers’ instructional practices, students’ perceptions of the curriculum, and students’ reading outcomes.
Duration
2025-2028
Featured Experts
Misty Sailors
