NEW Classroom-Proven Research Results!

In a 2009 scientifically based research study in East Hartford (CT) Public Schools, independent researchers report:

• "Third grade students who received the Benchmark Education program had significantly greater improvements in literacy over the course of a single academic year across all variables measured."
• "Perhaps most significant, . . . economically disadvantaged students [receiving free and reduced lunch] who received the Benchmark Education program improved as much or more than more affluent students."

• Early Explorers and Early Connections Leveled Texts with Comprehension Question Cards
• Bridges and Navigators Leveled Text Pairs with Comprehension Question Cards
• English Explorers (Science & Social Studies themes) and Math Explorers Leveled Texts with Audio CDs, Talking E-Books, and Comprehension Question Cards
• Reader's Theater Multi-Leveled Scripts
• VCL Vocabulary Science, Social Studies, and Math Posters, Cards, and Whiteboard CD-ROMs
• Professional Development (Customized) — Initial product training followed by monthly on-site coaching in whole-group and small-group differentiated instruction

Comparing 2008 Grade 3 vs. 2009 Grade 4 state reading scores, schools using BEC programs showed a 10-point average gain in the % of Title I students scoring "At/Above Proficient."

Title I students' reading levels rose 82% higher in schools using Benchmark Education's Program vs. control schools using other publishers' programs.

 Click Here(3 MB) for more info in the research study's Executive Summary

Scientifically Based Research

The instructional design of Benchmark Education Company’s supplemental resources has been linked to a comprehensive list of scientifically based research citations from the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (SEDL), an independent, published research facility. We have compiled a report based on this material that is entitled National Early Literacy Research Summary.

The links below will take you to this material, which is organized in seven sections by principal Benchmark Education product areas. Extensive and specific research citations for BEC programs are published in part C of the appendices and throughout the Summary.

In addition, this Summary includes clinical evaluations of BEC programs and materials to demonstrate their effectiveness. Of particular note is a yearlong, statewide study compiled by MGT of America, Inc. that shows that Arkansas students in grades K–3 using Benchmark Education programs achieved dramatic increases in phoneme segmentation and oral reading fluency. By year-end, 89% and 75% of first graders had hit or surpassed DIBELS benchmarks for these two skills, respectively.

•  I. Introduction (100.27 KB)
  
•  II. Scientifically-Based Research - Tyler, TX (Eng & Span) (137.71 KB)
•  III. K-3 & K-5 BookRoom Collections with Comprehension Strategy Posters (195.74 KB) 
  
•  IV. Phonetic Connections StartUp, BuildUp, & SpiralUp Phonics Kits (176.92 KB) 
  
• V. Reader's Theater (228.15 KB) 
  
•  VI. Fluency Kits for Independent Practice (111.12 KB)
  
•  VII. Reading Explorers PathFinders & TrailBlazers Tutoring Programs for Intervention (169.19 KB) 
  
•  VIII. Comprehension Skill Bags for Intervention (107.43 KB) 
  
•  Appendices (228.15 KB)