We are thrilled to announce that our client, IMSE (Institute for Multi-Sensory Education), has achieved significant recognition for their foundational literacy program, Orton-Gillingham Plus (OG+). This accomplishment demonstrates how rigorous research can validate an educational product’s effectiveness in today’s evidence-driven landscape.
Evidence-Based Validation for Orton-Gillingham Plus
Our partnership with IMSE has resulted in prestigious validation that confirms what educators have experienced in their classrooms:
LXD Research ESSA Level 2 Badge – The program has earned our “Moderate” evidence rating for K-1 literacy instruction based on a rigorous quasi-experimental study conducted during the 2022-2023 school year in Michigan.
As researchers committed to elevating the quality of educational products through rigorous evaluation, we’re particularly proud of this achievement. Only a small percentage of educational programs meet the stringent criteria necessary for ESSA Tier 2 validation.
The Research That Made It Possible
The quasi-experimental study that earned OG+ this recognition was conducted during the 2022-2023 school year with 397 students in grades K-1 across four schools in a Title 1 school district in Michigan. The research evaluated the program’s effectiveness using MAP Growth assessments, comparing students taught by teachers using IMSE’s OG+ program to those who received standard district literacy instruction.
The results were compelling and statistically significant:
- Kindergarten students using OG+ demonstrated significantly higher spring scores and fall-to-spring gains (effect size = +0.33), with particularly notable improvements in foundational skills and language and writing.
- First-grade students showed even stronger gains (effect size = +0.48), with substantial improvements across multiple literacy subdomains, including literature and informational text comprehension.
- Growth target achievement was remarkable: Nearly twice the proportion of students met their MAP Growth targets when their teachers used IMSE’s OG+ program – 35% compared to 17% in kindergarten, and 35% versus 20% in first grade.
These findings provide strong evidence that OG+ strengthens the building blocks of early literacy through its explicit, systematic, and cumulative approach to instruction.
What the Teachers Shared
Through this research, we gained valuable insights into why OG+ delivers positive results. The program builds phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension through multimodal techniques and guided practice, providing students with a structured approach to developing foundational literacy skills. Based on interviews and surveys from K-1 teachers:
Educators consistently noted the high quality of OG+’s scope and sequence, with one ELA coordinator observing: “The OG [curriculum], it builds from one lesson to the next. And [it] makes sense, like these letters and sounds are developmentally, kids are ready for. And then it builds upon itself, where other programs are not that way.”
Teachers saw measurable growth in students’ phonics skills and reading behaviors, with one noting: “What I have noticed most is that the students in my class have definitely been able to learn their letters and sounds much sooner and quicker and apply those to the curriculum.”
Educators expressed increased confidence in their literacy instruction, reporting strong student engagement with the program’s structured approach.
Implications for Educators
In today’s educational landscape, selecting literacy programs requires more than teacher preference or student engagement. Districts need solutions backed by rigorous evidence that demonstrates real impact on student outcomes. The ESSA Tier 2 validation provides educators with confidence that this program doesn’t just feel effective—it demonstrably is effective.
This quasi-experimental study offers top-tier ESSA evidence for IMSE’s OG+ that goes beyond anecdotal reports:
- The study shows statistically significant improvements in student outcomes across multiple literacy measures, with effect sizes indicating meaningful educational impact equivalent to approximately two additional months of growth.
- The evidence demonstrates that the program works effectively with diverse student populations in high-need settings, as evidenced by the study’s Title 1 district context.
- The implementation model is replicable across different educational settings, making it a reliable choice for various districts seeking structured literacy solutions.
While teacher satisfaction and student engagement are important factors in program selection, the educational community increasingly recognizes that these elements must be paired with strong evidence of effectiveness. OG+ offers both—a program that educators find practical to implement and that research confirms produces meaningful literacy gains.
Our Continued Research Partnership
While we celebrate this achievement, our research journey with IMSE continues. We remain committed to helping IMSE and other educational providers build their evidence base, ensuring educators have access to solutions proven to work.
The success of IMSE’s OG+ validation demonstrates the critical importance of rigorous research in validating educational interventions. This study provides a strong foundation for districts seeking evidence-based literacy solutions that deliver measurable results for their students.
For more information about IMSE and the Orton-Gillingham Plus program, visit IMSE’s website.
To learn more about LXD Research’s evidence-based evaluation services and how we can help your educational product earn similar validations, visit www.lxdresearch.com.
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