This research overview synthesizes findings from multiple Newsela efficacy and validity studies, including in-house research and third-party evaluations.

It provides district leaders with a high-level, evidence-based summary of how Newsela supports literacy growth, equity, and instructional decision-making across grade levels and student groups.

Key Findings

Across Newsela studies:

• Consistent Newsela use multiple times per week is linked to positive literacy outcomes
• Measurable literacy gains were observed in as little as 3 weeks (≈11.5 instructional hours)
• Newsela demonstrated positive effects across demographic subgroups, including students requiring intervention
• Higher Newsela quiz scores predict stronger performance on standardized ELA assessments
• Newsela meets ESSA Tier II (Moderate Evidence) criteria across multiple studies

Who Should Use This Study?

This resource is designed for:

• District and state administrators
• Research and accountability teams
• ESSA and federal programs leaders
• Curriculum and instructional leadership teams