We are thrilled to announce that our client, Spalding Education International, has achieved an impressive triple recognition for their comprehensive K-6 literacy program, The Writing Road to Reading. This milestone accomplishment perfectly illustrates how strong research can elevate an educational product in today’s evidence-driven landscape.
A Trifecta of Validation to be ESSA Evidence-Certified
Our partnership with Spalding has resulted in three prestigious validations that confirm what educators feel when they use the program:
- Evidence for ESSA Listing – The program is now featured on Johns Hopkins University’s respected platform with “Promising Evidence” designation for K-5 (retrospective 2-year quasi-experimental design study; see summary brief below).
- International Certification of Evidence of Impact in Education (ICEIE) Effectiveness Silver – Further validating the program’s efficacy through independent expert review of a state-wide analysis.
- Digital Promise Research-Based Design Certification – Recognizing Spalding’s commitment to incorporating learning sciences research into their product design, see Spalding ESSA Packet Logic Model.
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 these validations.
The ESSA Evidence That Made It Possible
Our team at LXD Research conducted a two-year efficacy study with Spalding in a large Arizona school district from 2022 to 2024. The quasi-experimental study compared three schools implementing The Writing Road to Reading with eleven comparison schools across grades K-5.
The results were compelling and statistically significant:
- Following kindergartners through the end of first grade, we found Spalding schools made higher gains on early reading skills
- When tracking grades 2-4 through grades 3-5, Spalding schools demonstrated higher state test scores at the end of the second year
- Across all measured grades, students using Spalding’s program outperformed the comparison group on multiple literacy assessments
One of our most exciting findings was what we termed the “flipping of the triangle” effect. While comparison schools had most of their students performing below proficiency levels with less than 30% on or above, Spalding schools achieved the opposite pattern after using Spalding’s programs for a few years– nearly half of students performed on or above proficiency levels with fewer students falling below standards. See the full paper here.
Meeting ESSA’s Rigorous Standards
The LXD Research “Moderate Evidence” designation (ESSA Level 2) is particularly noteworthy. Our research design met all the necessary criteria:
- We implemented a well-designed quasi-experimental study with appropriate matching techniques
- The sample included over 350 students across multiple sites (1,915 students in our matched sample)
- Statistical analyses showed significant positive findings, controlling for baseline scores and demographic variables
- The implementation model is replicable in other educational settings
This designation provides educators with confidence that The Writing Road to Reading meets federal standards for evidence-based interventions – critical information for schools seeking literacy solutions that qualify for federal funding.
What Makes Spalding’s Approach Effective
Through our research, we gained valuable insights into why Spalding’s program delivers such strong results. The Writing Road to Reading introduces students to foundational language concepts through structured, explicit, systematic, and multi-modal phonemic-based instruction.
The program’s comprehensive approach trains teachers to deliver effective instruction in spelling, reading, and writing while providing tools to assess student progress. This integrated methodology aligns perfectly with what learning sciences research tells us about effective literacy instruction.
Implications for Educators
For districts seeking evidence-based literacy solutions, these three validations provide compelling reasons to consider Spalding’s program:
- The research shows statistically significant improvements in student outcomes in mulitple studies
- The program works effectively across diverse student populations (the large district study included approximately 75% Hispanic students, 10% Black students, and 10% students with special education needs)
- The implementation model is replicable
As researchers, we’re particularly encouraged by the year-over-year improvements we observed. The compounding growth suggests that continued implementation may yield even stronger results over time.
Our Continued Research Partnership
While we celebrate these achievements, our research journey with Spalding continues. Recommended next steps include:
- Following students through an additional year of implementation to measure the effects of continued use on year-over-year performance
- Capturing educator perspectives on implementation strengths and challenges
- Examining the program’s impact on specific student subgroups
We’re committed to helping Spalding and other educational providers continue building their evidence base, ensuring educators have access to solutions proven to work.
For more information about Spalding Education International and The Writing Road to Reading, visit www.spalding.org.
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.
About LXD Research: LXD Research is an independent evaluation and research firm within Charles River Media focusing on educational programs. We specialize in research communication, efficacy study validation, and the design and execution of ESSA-aligned research studies. With more approved studies than any other research firm, we partner with top-tier education companies to ensure schools receive the robust research and evidence vital for accelerating student learning.