Irving, Texas
Irving Independent School District

Author:
Susan Ramos

Date evaluation report completed:
June 15, 2000

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

Number of schools involved:
7 schools
80 fifth–grade students (38 second language learners)

Demographics of sample population:
Irving is a mid-size, central city located in Texas. There are 27,000 students enrolled in the district. The student populations of the 7 schools include 9% Asian, 14% African American, 46% Hispanic, and 34% Caucasian, with 49% of the students receiving free or reduced lunches. The fifth–graders in this study were reading from 1-4 years below level when they began receiving Soar to Success instruction in their classrooms. Forty-two per cent of the students were second-language learners.

Purpose of study:
To measure the effectiveness of Soar to Success.

Methodology:
The 5th–grade students received 40 minutes of Soar instruction 4-5 days a week. The Flynt-Cooter Reading Inventory and TAAS scores were used as pre and post tests. The classroom teachers provided the instruction.

Measures/indicators used to assess effectiveness:
Flynt-Cooter Reading Inventory
TAAS (Texas state assessment)

Findings: The students made gains of approximately 1.2 levels during the Soar program, as measured by the informal reading inventory. The TAAS results indicate that 77% of these students passed the TAAS after failing during the last school year.