Seattle Hill Elementary

Institution

Seattle Hill Elementary School, Everett, Washington

Scope of Work

Using both a criterion-referenced assessment tool and a norm-reference tool, comparable percentages were constructed among the school, the school district, and the state to track the reading, writing, and listening gains for K-2 students

Tool

Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL), Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS)

Evaluation

Conducted 1996 - 1998

Seattle Hill Elementary School first implemented Discover Intensive Phonics as early as 1992. Convinced of the benefits of the program, the instructional staff made a commitment to add a stronger phonics instructional piece to the primary classes. All staff attended an in-service, district wide training to upgrade their program.

Because Seattle Hill has very little turnover in grades K–2, the success of the program continues to improve, as experience grows more adept.

Data

Percentages of students reading at or above state standards:

Evaluator's Observations

It is reported on a user survey that according to data collected from the CTBS and the WASL, the excellent reading scores are most likely the result of the Discover Intensive Phonics program. The program evaluator strongly feels there is a causal relationship between the program and the above, charted results. “If it were due simply to socio-economics, then other schools with our demographics would be scoring similarly. Our scores on the WASL are among the highest in the state.”