Juneau, Alaska

Author:
Laurie Schoenberger
Auke Bay Elementary

Date evaluation report completed:
June 13, 2000

Months/years covered by evaluation:
September 1999-February 2000

Number of schools involved:
1 school
3 teachers
18 students

Demographics of sample population:
Juneau Borough Schools enrolls 5, 727 students. Juneau is considered a large town. Auke Bay Elementary is a K-5 building with 434 students: 3% Asian, 16% American Indian/Alaskan, 23% Hispanic and 78% Caucasian.

Purpose of study:
Measure progress of the Soar to Success students

Methodology:
Seven 4th–grade students and eleven 3rd–grade students were chosen to be in the Soar to Success groups. Three of these students were in special education and three were receiving ESL support. All of these students were reading from 1-2 years below grade level. The Gates MacGinitie Reading Test and the Silvaroli Informal Reading Inventory were used as pre and posttests. Classroom teachers delivered the instruction.

Measures/indicators used to assess effectiveness:
Gates MacGinitie Reading Test
Silvaroli Informal Reading Inventory

Findings: The average gain on the Silvaroli Informal Reading Inventory was 2 grade levels. The average gain on the Gates MacGinitie was 1.3 years in vocabulary and 1.6 years in comprehension.