Mandated Reading Remediation: Examining the Effectiveness of Houston's Secondary Reading Initiative

• In Event: 52.085 - Poster Session 10
  In Poster Session: 52.085-4 - Accountability Policies at the Local, State, and National Levels

Abstract

The primary objective of the Houston Independent School District’s (HISD) Secondary Reading Initiative (SRI) is to increase struggling students’ reading achievement by substituting elective courses with mandatory courses that provide targeted reading remediation. In addition to requiring students spend additional time learning and practicing reading skills, HISD provides teachers with professional development and additional financial incentives based on students’ performances on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness reading section. I apply a “fuzzy” regression discontinuity design that utilizes the test score eligibility cut point to assess the effectiveness of this intervention. I find that, so far, SRI has not had a significant impact on reading achievement for students relative to those students narrowly ineligible for SRI.

Author

• Daniel Henry Bowen, Texas A&M University