Perrault Corrections Center

Summary of Findings

Residents who received Reading Horizons instruction improved their scores, on average, from a fourth- to a sixth-grade reading level.

Background

A rehabilitation and correctional facility received a grant to improve their educational services for residents and selected Reading Horizons for implementation in their program. For the term of the grant, the goal was to serve 63 residents. Throughout the time of data collection, 264 residents lived in the facility and 107 participated in the Reading Horizons program (40.5%). Therefore, the number of residents who participated exceeded the estimation for the grant.

Resources

Reading Horizons direct instruction and interactive software.

Implementation

Based on need, residents participated in an Adult Basic Education (ABE) or General Educational Development (GED) class. Reading Horizons was used in the ABE class. Scores reported are based on student performance in the ABE class only. Scores were recorded prior to residents beginning the program and again at the end of their time in the facility or at program completion. Although the name of the assessment tool used to measure progress was not included in the study, four skill areas were assessed: reading comprehension, reading vocabulary, spelling, and English. Eighteen ABE class participants (16.8% of the students) had earned a high school diploma or GED prior to entering the facility. Thirty-one participants (28.9%) began the program reading at or below a thirdgrade level and received a tutor in addition to participating in the ABE class. On average, students spent 3.4 months in the ABE class.

***The research findings (above) are based on the Reading Horizons corrections reading program. Other Reading Horizons reading curriculum includes an elementary reading program, a reading intervention program, and ESL reading program.***