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 U.S. Department of Education states that all schools should use instructional programs that have been proven effective in the classroom through scientific research. Benchmark Education Company (BEC) continuously submits its products and services to rigorous scientifically based classroom research. The company uses university-based, independent research and evaluation teams that help select experimental and control schools, administer pretests and posttests, and compile results.

In 2009, BEC took part in a rigorous study in East Hartford (CT) Public Schools. Implementation of BEC programs with on-site professional development resulted in substantial gains in Lexile scores, Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) scores, as well as in the percentage of students "At/Above Proficient" on the state reading test. Of particular note is the impact Benchmark Education materials had on accelerating Title I student achievement.

BEC has published a National Literacy Research Summary which details all recent scientific research results, including evaluations by product line. You will also find extensive and specific research citations in the Bibliography and throughout the Summary. See pdf links below.

 I. Introduction (186 KB)

 II. Benchmark Education Literacy Research Study - East Hartford (CT) PS (612 KB)

 III. Benchmark Education Literacy Research Study - Tyler (TX) ISD (532 KB)

 IV. K-6 BookRoom Collections and Bridges/Navigators Text Pairs with Comprehension Strategy Posters (451 KB)

 V. Reader's Theater (1.5 MB)

 VI. Phonics Skill Bags/Phonetic Connections (315 KB)

 VII. Word Study & Vocabulary Skill Bags (99 KB)

 VIII. Content Connections Big Books: Science, Social Studies, Math (91 KB)

 IX. Shared Reading Classics (88 KB)

 X. Readers' & Writers' Genre Workshop (162 KB)

 XI. PRIME Science and Social Studies (95 KB)

 XII. Early Explorers (221 KB)

 XIII. English Explorers and Math Explorers (362 KB)

 XIV. VCL - Vocabulary (349 KB)

 XV. RIGOR (325 KB)

 XVI. Fluency Kits (74 KB)

 XVII. Reading Explorers (525 KB)

 XVIII. Comprehension Skill Bags (77 KB)

 XIX. Bibliography (124 KB)