Serious Science

More than two decades of research in university and classroom settings have shown us that it takes both a high-quality curriculum and a highly effective implementation to improve reading achievement. Studies by leading researchers support our findings.

In this section, we present studies and conclusions of leading researchers in four fields that directly affect the success of reading programs:

• The Science of Reading - Creating an environment, based on the best predictors of early literacy success, that helps children acquire the skills and experiences they need to become effective readers.
• The Science of Language - Establishing the rich context of oral language that children need for comprehension and long-term reading success.
• The Science of Implementation - Supporting teachers in their classrooms and building a culture that supports change.
• The Science of Teachers - Empowering classroom teachers to become effective and enthusiastic teachers of reading.

For each of these sciences, we also demonstrate how Breakthrough to Literacy takes the lead in bringing identified success factors to the classroom - in both curriculum and implementation.

Exceeding the Standards of SBRR

Today, educators hear a great deal about scientifically based reading research (SBRR). Many assume that reading programs that meet the standards of SBRR will, by definition, prevent reading difficulties and help children meet rigorous state standards. This is a limited perspective.

To be truly effective, reading programs also must seriously consider and respect the contributions of the sciences of language, teaching, and implementation. This comprehensive view of early literacy framed the development of Breakthrough to Literacy. It is largely responsible for Breakthrough's consistent, long-term student achievement and our continued success in implementing improvements in professional classroom practice.

Lasting Results

In assessments of critical skills, students using Breakthrough to Literacy consistently outperform matched groups who did not use Breakthrough. Longitudinal assessments reveal that the comparative advantage of using Breakthrough persists for years to come. Browse the results of independent studies on Breakthrough in classrooms nationwide.

Implementation Makes the Difference

As with any serious initiative, Breakthrough's results are directly related to the quality of implementation: how consistently teachers engage children in the program's essential instructional practices and how carefully they focus on the developmental needs of each child. Results clearly demonstrate the value of Breakthrough's professional development and ongoing support, as well as the strong partnerships we form with school administrators and teachers.

Instead of just asking whether Breakthrough works, we urge educators to consider a much more useful question: How can we establish the conditions that will ensure our Breakthrough implementation will be successful?

Learn more about how Breakthrough builds partnerships for success with schools and helps classroom teachers become confident and effective teachers of early literacy.