This ESSA Tier II study evaluates the impact of Newsela ELA use among California middle school students on reading achievement outcomes.

The study uses a quasi-experimental design to compare students who used Newsela ELA regularly with similar peers who did not, providing rigorous evidence aligned to ESSA requirements.

Key Findings

This study found that:

• Students who regularly used Newsela ELA demonstrated statistically significant gains in reading achievement
• Literacy gains remained significant after accounting for prior achievement and demographic factors
• Results support Newsela ELA as an effective, content-rich literacy intervention for middle school students
• The study meets ESSA Tier II evidence criteria

Who Should Use This Study?

This resource is designed for:

• District and state administrators
• ESSA and compliance leaders
• Curriculum and instruction teams
• Decision-makers evaluating Tier II instructional tools