Title of Study:  Accelerated Reader

Author(s): What Works Clearinghouse

Summary:
The Accelerated Reader program is a guided reading intervention comprised of a computerized supplementary reading program for independent reading practice combined with a set of teacher-led classroom practices.  This review summarizes the results of two studies of Accelerated Reader that meet the What Works Clearinghouse evidence standards.


Sponsoring entity(s): U. S. Department of Education

Date conducted: 2008

Location of the study: This study can be accessed through the What Works Clearinghouse website.

Setting(s) addressed:

• Classroom

Targeted population(s):

• The two studies reviewed focused on grades K through 3

Primary sources of evidence used in the study or report:

• Review of published research

Primary Technology Application(s) Addressed:

• Instructional software

Major education topic(s) addressed:

• Reading

Major findings/conclusions:

• The studies reviewed found no significant effect of Accelerated Reader on reading fluency
• One study found a positive, but not statistically significant effect of Accelerated Reader on reading comprehension.  The second study found a somewhat negative, but not significant effect on reading comprehension.
• One study found a substantially positive effect on general reading achievement.

Practical implications of the findings:

• Accelerated Reader has intervention programs for pre-K through high school.  The two studies reviewed covered only grades K-3.

Reviewer Comments:
The WWC reviewed 100 studies of Accelerated Reader, but only two met WWC’s stringent evidence standards.  One was a 10-week trial, the other a 1-year trial.  Results from the other 100 studies can be accessed through the Renaissance Learning website at http://www.renlearn.com/ar/research.aspx.