Amid Ongoing National Literacy Crisis, Boost Reading Demonstrates Strong Outcomes for Academically Vulnerable Students

Students who used Boost Reading for 30 minutes a week outperform their peers across K–5.

BROOKLYN, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Amplify, a publisher of next-generation curriculum and assessment programs, released the results of a second year-long study on the impact of Boost Reading, a personalized learning program for elementary grades powered by the Science of Reading. Students in grades K–5—including English/multilingual learners—who used Boost Reading for 30 minutes a week significantly outperformed their peers. Students at risk for reading difficulty who used Boost Reading were 26 percent more likely than students not using Boost Reading to meet or exceed grade-level benchmarks by the end of the school year.

The study compared more than 43,000 K–5 students who used Boost Reading for at least 30 minutes a week with a group of more than 130,000 students who did not use Boost Reading, matched on key student and school characteristics. Educators measured student reading skills using DIBELS® 8th Edition, the gold-standard early reading assessment developed by the University of Oregon.

A digital, student-driven program for grades K–5, Boost Reading enables educators to support every reader in their classrooms through its adaptive technology and powerful storytelling. Boost Reading aligns with Amplify’s other early literacy programs and pairs with Boost Lectura to provide personalized English and Spanish instructional parity.

“Seeing such clear and compelling outcomes for two years in a row is just the kind of promising data we could all use as we continue to navigate a post-COVID world,” said Melissa Ulan, senior vice president of the literacy suite at Amplify. “When educators have research-backed tools to personalize instruction, they are able to meet the needs of every student and drive significant growth in reading skills. The data confirm it.”

The research is rigorous: This national study from the 2021–22 school year meets the Every Student Succeeds Act’s (ESSA) Tier 2 Moderate Evidence criteria, showing significant and positive effects on student outcomes. Notably, 62 percent of at-risk English/multilingual kindergarten students in the Boost Reading group finished the year at benchmark or above, compared to 47 percent of students in the comparison group.

About Amplify

A pioneer in K–12 education since 2000, Amplify is leading the way in next-generation curriculum and assessment. Our core and supplemental programs in literacy, math, and science engage all students in rigorous learning and inspire them to think deeply, creatively, and for themselves. Our formative assessment products turn data into practical instructional support to help all students build a strong foundation in early reading and math. All of our programs and services provide educators with powerful tools that help them understand and respond to the needs of every student. Today, Amplify serves more than 15 million students in all 50 states. For more information, visit amplify.com.