Blue Ball, Pennsylvania
Eastern Lancaster County School District

Author:
Nancy Hershey
Blue Ball Elementary School

Date evaluation report completed:
June 15, 2000

Months/years covered by evaluation:
School year 1999-2000

Number of schools involved:
Blue Ball Elementary
69 Students
Grades 3-6

Demographics of sample population:
Blue Ball Elementary has 521 K-6 students: 99% of its students are Caucasian. Blue Ball is a rural school in Lancaster County, PA.

The students in the study were reading below level based upon fall assessment information and teacher observation. All students reading below level were part of Soar groups. Special education and second language learners were also part of these groups. The students received Soar instruction in the classroom with their classroom teachers.

Purpose of study:
Measure progress over time of Soar To Success students.

Methodology:
The students were tested with the QRI II in the spring. Several students were administered (pre and post) the Flynt Cooter Informal Reading Inventory. Other students were given the DRP.

Measures/indicators used to assess effectiveness:
QRI II
Flynt Cooter Informal Reading Inventory
DRP

Findings:

QRI II
3rd Grade (19)
74% of students were reading on or above grade level.

4th Grade (16)
75% of students were reading on or above grade level.

5th Grade (19)
58% of students were reading on or above grade level.

6th Grade (15)
93% of students were reading on or above grade level.

Results for students in grades 3-5 indicate 69% are now reading on or above the current grade level.

Flynt Cooter Informal Reading Inventory

3rd Grade: Pre–and post data for 13 students was available:
23% moved from partially proficient to proficient level
15% moved from partially proficient to advanced level
15% moved from proficient to advanced level

4th Grade: Pre–and post data available for 15 students:
53% moved from partially proficient to proficient level
27% moved from partially proficient to advanced level
20% moved from proficient to advanced level

5th Grade: Pre–and post data for 14 students was available
50% moved from partially proficient to proficient level
29% moved from partially proficient to advanced level
7% moved from proficient to advanced level

6th Grade:: Pre–and post data for 7 students was available
57 % moved from partially proficient to proficient level
29% moved from partially proficient to advanced level

DRP
3rd Grade: Pre–and post data was available for 17 students
29% moved from partially proficient to proficient level
18% moved from proficient to advanced level

4th Grade: Pre–and post data was available for 15 students
60% moved from partially proficient to proficient level

5th Grade: Pre–and post data was available for 19 students:
21% moved from partially proficient to proficient level
26% remained proficient

6th Grade: Pre–and post data was available for 15 students:
27% moved from partially proficient to proficient levels
6% moved from partially proficient to advanced level
13% moved from proficient to advanced level
46% remained proficient
6% remained partially proficient