WWC Looks at Reading Mastery for Special Needs Students

The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) reviewed research to find what works in the classroom, including programs and methods for students with special needs. The newest report from the WWC focuses on Reading Mastery, a direct instruction curriculum designed to provide explicit reading instruction to students in grades pre-K–5.

The WWC reviewed 17 studies that investigated the effects of Reading Mastery on students with learning disabilities. Two studies are randomized controlled trials that meet WWC evidence standards without reservations. The studies included 113 students with learning disabilities in grades 2–5 from schools in the southeastern United States. Based on these two studies, the WWC found Reading Mastery to have no discernible effects on reading comprehension and potentially negative effects on alphabetics, reading fluency, and writing for students with learning disabilities.

Read the full report