This research summary reports findings from a randomized controlled pilot study of Newsela Writing (formerly Ecree), conducted by Mathematica with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The study included 1,828 students in grades 8–11 across two U.S. districts.

Key Findings

This study found that:

• Students using Newsela Writing scored ≈10 percentile points higher in overall writing ability
• Essay organization and evidence use improved by 14 percentile points each
• Students with less-advanced skills improved by 15–20 percentile points
• 58% of students reported Newsela Writing helped them improve their writing
• 59% of teachers agreed the tool helped students improve writing
• Teachers reported reduced workload and faster feedback cycles

Who Should Use This Study?

This resource is designed for:

• District administrators and superintendents
• Literacy and writing program leaders
• Professional learning teams
• Decision-makers evaluating AI-supported writing tools