Reading Corps is an AmeriCorps program that helps students become successful readers and meet reading targets by the end of the third grade. Trained literacy tutors apply research-based literacy interventions for more than 36,000 at-risk students in Prekindergarten (PreK) through grade 3 each year. The Minnesota Reading Corps program served more than 600 schools throughout the state and reached more than 20,000 students in the 2017-2018 school year.
 
Study Goals:
The goal of the Minnesota Reading Corps impact evaluation is to assess the impact of the Minnesota Reading Corps program on Kindergarten, first grade, second grade, and third grade students’ literacy scores.
 
Research Questions:
The primary research questions were:
  1. For Kindergarten and first grade students, what is the impact of a single semester of the Minnesota Reading Corps?
  2. For second and third grade students who are farthest from the Fall reading proficiency benchmark, what is the impact of a full school year of Minnesota Reading?
  3. Does program impact vary by participant characteristics, such as demographics?
Findings:
The evaluation found the following:
  • After a full year of tutoring, second and third grade program students achieved significantly higher literacy assessment scores compared to control students.
  • The Minnesota Reading Corps program can have a substantial and positive impact on at-risk students who may be underserved.
  • The Minnesota Reading Corps program positively impacted literacy outcomes for Kindergarten through third grade students.

For more information, download the full report.

Full report

Full Report
Reading_Math_19AC208813_Report_Revised_508.pdf

Further information

Program/Intervention
Minnesota Reading Corps - Greater MN
Implementing Organization
Reading & Math Inc
Intermediary(s)

ServeMinnesota

AmeriCorps Program(s)
AmeriCorps State and National
Age(s) Studied
6-12 (Childhood)
Outcome Category
K-12 success
Study Type(s)
Impact
Study Design(s)
Experimental (RCT)
Level of Evidence
Moderate
Researcher/Evaluator
Carrie E. Markovitz, Marc W. Hernandez, Eric C. Hedberg, Heidi H. Whitmore, Jennifer L. Satorius (NORC at the University of Chicago)
Published Year
2018
Study Site Location (State)
Minnesota