Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage School District

Author:
Anchorage School District
Anchorage, Alaska

Date evaluation report completed:
June 2000

Months/years covered by evaluation:
January-May 2000 (9 weeks)

Number of schools involved:
1 school
14 students

Demographics of sample population:
Anchorage is a mid-size city. Taku Elementary has 414 students: 4% Asian, 6% Hispanic 10% African American, 14% American Indian/Alaskan, and 66% Caucasian. The 14 students in the Soar to Success class were reading at least two years below level.

Purpose of study:
To determine the literacy growth of the Soar to Success students.

Methodology:
Students received 9 weeks of Soar to Success instruction for 40 minutes a day, 4-5 days a week. The STAR test was used a pre-and post evaluation. Classroom teachers delivered the instruction.

Measures/indicators used to assess effectiveness:
STAR

Findings: In just nine weeks students made an average gain of one year.

	Previous Year TAAS	TAAS (after Soar instruction)
3rd Graders		68% passed
4th Graders	55% passed	85% passed
5th Graders	32% passed	64% passed