Study examines effects of curriculum and professional development on ELL language proficiency

Denver—In April, the Institute of Education Sciences released a REL Central at McREL report on a randomized controlled trial study that examined the combined impact of the On Our Way to English (OWE) curriculum and the Responsive Instruction in English (RISE) professional development program on the language proficiency of English language learners (ELLs).

OWE is a comprehensive English language and literacy program for K–5 classrooms that includes a focus on oral language development; thematic, standards-based instruction; and formative and summative assessments. RISE is a professional development program for K–5 teachers on the knowledge and skills needed to support ELL students in language and literacy learning.

The study employed a large sample size, rigorous analytic methods, and an extensive peer review process. Researchers recruited schools in the Central Region states with the largest percentages of Spanish-speaking ELL students in the elementary grades—Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska—and randomly assigned them to the intervention group or the control group (53 schools total). Teachers in the intervention group received OWE and RISE training and materials; teachers in the control group used existing strategies and materials.

Using data from the IPT language proficiency assessment, the study found that there was no statistically significant difference between the composite scores of students in the intervention group and students in the control group. The combination of OWE and RISE also did not have a significant impact on teacher-reported student engagement in ELL-specific educational materials, teachers’ self-reported instructional practices, or teachers’ self-reported instructional responsiveness and assessment practices.

The report, Effects of Curriculum and Teacher Professional Development on the Language Proficiency of Elementary English Language Learner Students in the Central Region, was conducted under the REL Central at McREL 2006–2011 contract.