Open Court Reading/Imagine It! Creates Proficient Readers at Ralph Witters Elementary

The case study examines the implementation of the SRA Open Court Reading/Imagine It! program at Ralph Witters Elementary School in Thermopolis, Wyoming. This public school serves kindergarten through grade 4 students in the Hot Springs County School District, a rural area. The school has a student population where 16% are in special education and 44% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

The program was introduced in 2008 to address unsatisfactory reading proficiency scores. Prior to implementation, only 48% of students achieved or exceeded expected RIT scores. By 2014, after seven years of using the program, the school’s five-year cohort average showed 82% of students meeting or exceeding their expected RIT reading levels. Additionally, DIBELS benchmark scores improved significantly, rising from 68% of students meeting or exceeding benchmarks during 2007-2009 to 87% during 2012-2014, with 88% achieving benchmarks in 2014.

The program focuses on explicit, systematic instruction across key reading areas: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and writing. It emphasizes the "Big Five" components of early reading instruction and provides tools for assessment, enabling teachers to identify at-risk students and tailor instruction effectively. Training for teachers was integral to the program’s success, with initial training sessions and ongoing support from instructional facilitators.

The program was positively received by students, teachers, and parents, with notable improvements in literacy skills and consistent preparation for kindergarten students. Principal Deborah Brown credits the program’s structured approach and robust phonetic component for the school’s success.