Impact of Achieve3000 Literacy on Reading Outcomes of English Learner Students in Cajon Valley USD, 2016-2017

The study, conducted by Digital Promise, examines the impact of Achieve3000 Literacy, a differentiated instruction solution, on English Learner (EL) students’ reading outcomes in Cajon Valley Union School District (El Cajon, California) during the 2016–2017 school year. The program serves grades PreK–12 and adult education, though this study focused on elementary and middle school students. Cajon Valley USD is a suburban public school district with over 16,500 students across 30 schools, 35% of whom are ELs. The pilot involved 521 EL students across five schools and 13 teachers, with students completing an average of 63 activities over 34 hours of usage.

Researchers compared EL students in the pilot group to those in two non-pilot schools. Pre- and post-assessments were conducted using Achieve3000 Literacy’s proprietary LevelSet tool to measure Lexile reading growth. Surveys, focus groups, and classroom observations supplemented the data collection. Outcomes focused on reading comprehension and Lexile score growth.

After controlling for differences in pre-test Lexiles, results showed statistically significant improvements for the pilot group, with an adjusted mean final Lexile score of 575L compared to 500L for the comparison group, a 75-point difference. Students in the pilot group demonstrated 2.5 times the average Lexile growth of non-pilot students. Teachers reported ease of use and improved student English skills, while students noted increased engagement and motivation. Limitations included potential familiarity bias with the platform among pilot students.