Success Begins Early at Alaskan Elementary School With Reading Mastery

At Big Lake Elementary School, a Title I school in Alaska, the implementation of McGraw Hill's Reading Mastery program led to notable improvements in early literacy skills. Following the program's adoption, 73% of kindergarten students were reading at or above a first-grade level by the end of the 2006–2007 school year, a milestone previously not met until the end of first grade. The school serves approximately 300 students in grades K–5, with a population that is 70% Caucasian and 25% Native American/Alaskan Native. Two-thirds of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. Data from the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) showed significant student growth, and in 2007, the school ranked third in the district for kindergarten DIBELS results. Furthermore, on the 2007 Alaska Standards Based Assessment (SBA), 86% of Grade 3 students scored Proficient or Advanced in reading, an increase from 74% in 2006.