2. Intervention Overview
Based on our school’s improvement plan, we need to improve the overall
English Language Arts end of the year test scores (Talley, 2014).
Researched several different ELA programs that targeted the improvement of
reading comprehension for all students at Gable Middle School.
Found one program called The Reading Edge Middle Grades that is designed to
improve middle school literacy for all students. This program places an
emphasis on cooperative learning, goal setting, feedback and assessments, and
the use of metacognitive strategies (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2012).
3. Instructional Target and Data
The improvement target that Gable Middle School has chosen to
improve, is the overall English Language Arts test scores.
Statistics show that Gable Middle School only had 68% of their student
body meet the ELA standards on last years end of the year test (South
Carolina Annual Report Card for L.E. Gable Middle School, 2013).
The majority of the student population that does not meet the ELA
standards are students that fall into the special education and minority
student populations.
4. The Intervention
Research-Based Intervention
The research-based intervention is called The
Reading Edge Middle Grades program.
Research shows that over the last 30 years
that The Reading Edge program has
consistently increased reading achievement
for students (Success for All Foundation, n.d.).
The Reading Edge program has shown to
increase the reading levels of all students no
matter their reading ability and close the
reading achievement gap of minority students.
Source of Intervention
Success for All Foundation
http://www.successforall.org/Middle/P
owerful-Instruction/The-Reading-Edge-
Middle-School/
5. The Reading Edge Middle Grades
Resources:
Like most any reading program a school invests in, The Reading Edge Middle Grades
program is very costly.
The majority of schools and districts that implement this reading program use Title I
funds to offset the cost of the overall program.
Gable Middle School could apply for the $50,000 i3 grant that is offered by the Success
for All Foundation and could also apply for a school improvement grant because we are
in the states lowest 5% of ELA testing (Success for All Foundation, n.d.)
Teachers will receive all the necessary training, lessons, curriculum and support needed
through the program.
6. Need More Information
The Reading Edge Middle Grades
http://www.successforall.org/Middle/Powerful-
Instruction/The-Reading-Edge-Middle-School/
http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/pdf/intervention_reports/wwc
_readingedge_062612.pdf
7. Gable Middle School Staff Input
Please answer the following questions:
1) Is improving the overall reading abilities of all students at Gable Middle
School an instructional target? Why?
2) Do you feel that The Reading Edge program could or would truly have an
impact on the ELA test scores at Gable Middle School? How?
3) Should this replace any current interventions that we are currently
implementing in our school now? Why or why not?
4) Should Gable Middle School spend the money and teacher resources on The
Reading Edge Middle Grades Program?
8. Staff Input Results
This presentation was shared with seven teachers at Gable Middle School that
all taught different grade levels and subject areas. All teachers agreed that we
need to find a way to improve our students reading levels and abilities not only
to help improve our ELA test scores, but to help increase the overall learning
levels at our school. Three teachers felt that The Reading Edge program could
be very beneficial at our school and give us a structured and designed program
to improve reading skills. The other four teachers just feel it is something else
that the school and district would be wasting their time and money on. A few
teachers showed concerns about trying the program because we have recently
started using the Read 180 program to increase reading skills. They feel that we
need to give this program some time before we spend the resources and money
on something new. The overall consensus I got from our teachers, was that we
need to stick with the Read 180 program for a few more years, and if this
program is unsuccessful, then we can look into trying another program to
improve our reading scores and levels, one such as The Reading Edge Middle
Grades program.
9. References
South Carolina State Department of Education (2013). The State of South Carolina 2013 Annual
School Report Card: L.E. Gable Middle School [pdf document]. Retrieved from
http://leg.spartanburg6.k12.sc.us/UserFiles/s6lgable/Documents/School%20Report%20Card%2
02013.pdf
Success for All Foundation. (n.d.). The Reading Edge Middle Grades: Second Edition. Retrieved
from http://www.successforall.org/Middle/Powerful-Instruction/The-Reading-Edge-Middle-
School/.
Talley, M. 2014. School improvement plan: L.E. Gable Middle School. Spartanburg County School
District Six.
