The purpose of this study was to statistically link the Star Reading unified scale to the Ohio State Test (OST) reading subscore scale to establish a score equivalent to the promotion benchmark of 50. As an approved alternate assessment, schools may use the Star Reading Third Grade Proficiency Assessment as evidence of meeting the benchmark. The full report is available online: <https://docs.renaissance.com/R60626>.

Renaissance Star Early Literacy and Renaissance Star Reading are approved as Diagnostic Assessments, also known as screeners, by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). Ohio educators can use these assessments to determine if K-3 students are on track or not on track for reading at grade level.The Star Reading Third Grade Proficiency Assessment is also approved by the ODE. This test is an alternative reading assessment that enables students to "demonstrate an acceptable level of reading performance for promotion to fourth grade." The full report is available online: <https://docs.renaissance.com/R63538>.

To develop Pathway to Proficiency reports for Ohio Star Reading Enterprise and Star Math Enterprise schools, we linked our scaled scores with the scaled scores from Ohio's achievement test. This technical report details the statistical method behind the process of linking Ohio State Tests (OST) and Star Reading and Star Math scaled scores. The full report is available online: <https://docs.renaissance.com/R45845>.

From the abstract: "Response to Intervention (RTI) or Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) is beginning to be implemented in preschool programs to improve outcomes and to reduce the need for special education services. The proportions of children in programs identified as struggling learners through universal screening have important implications for the feasibility of these approaches as well as for the way programs might allocate resources and staff implementing tiered models of intervention. The expected proportions of children who might be identified for higher tiers of instructional support in pre-kindergarten settings are relatively unknown. The proportions of children who would have been identified for higher tiers of instructional language/literacy support when using three different universal screening measures are described. Participants were 659 children participating in the Center for Response to Intervention in Early Childhood (CRTIEC) Tier 1 Study. Results indicated that the proportions of children at Tier 2 and Tier 3 performance levels were higher for children in low-income eligibility programs and varied by program-level characteristics including numbers of English language learners and children with special needs, as well as the universal screening measure used. Implications of these findings suggest the importance of increased focus on early literacy and language in Tier 1 instruction in programs serving high proportions of children at risk as a means of preventing reading failure in future years." Citation: Carta, J. J., Greenwood, C. R., Atwater, J., McConnell, S. R., Goldstein, H., & Kaminski, R. A. (2014). Identifying preschool children for higher tiers of language and early literacy instruction within a response to intervention framework. Journal of Early Intervention, 36(4), 281-291.The research study is available online: <https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275243333_Identifying_Preschool_Children_for_Higher_Tiers_of_Language_and_Early_Literacy_Instruction_Within_a_Response_to_Intervention_Framework>.

From the abstract: "Preschool experience plays a role in children's development. However, for programs with language and early literacy goals, the question remains whether or not preschool instructional experiences are sufficiently effective to achieve these goals for all children. In a multisite study, we conducted a process-product description of preschool instruction and children's growth and outcomes in typical programs (i.e., Pre-Kindergarten, Title 1, Head Start, Tuition-Based) using a Response to Intervention (RTI) perspective. Results indicated that (a) students in their preschool year prior to kindergarten made small gains, but students starting the year in lower Tier 2 and 3 performance levels did not close initial skills gaps, (b) variations were noted by program types with varying socio-demographics and instructional processes, and (c) the quality of instruction (Tier 1) received by all was low with room for improvement. Implications for future research on the application of the RTI approach and potential benefits are discussed."Citation: Greenwood, C. R., Carta, J. J., Atwater, J., Goldstein, H., Kaminski, R., & McConnell, S. R. (2012). Is a Response to Intervention (RTI) approach to preschool language and early literacy instruction needed? Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 33, 48-64.The research study is available online: <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4041200/>.

The findings of this report suggest which diagnostic tool best predicts passage on the Ohio Third Grade Reading Achievement Assessment (OAA). The researchers further looked at the comparative costs of these tools on a per student basis. Star Reading was found to have the strongest relationship with the Ohio Third Grade Reading Achievement Assessment and also one of the most cost-effective diagnostic tool among (1) Kindergarten Readiness Assessment- Literacy (KRA-L); (2) second grade AIMS fluency probes; (3) Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA); (4) Star reading assessment; and (5) standards based report card indicators (SBRCI).Citation: Ingle, W. K., & Cramer, T. (2012, March 17). A cost effectiveness analysis of third grade reading diagnostic tools. Paper presented at The Association for Education, Finance, and Policy 37th Annual Conference, Boston, MA.The full report is available online: <https://web.archive.org/web/20130602170613/https://aefpweb.org/sites/default/files/webform/CE%20analysis_reading%20assessments.pdf>.The Summary of this study is available online: <https://docs.renaissance.com/R54959>.

This case study details the reading achievement growth the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) attributes to the district's use of Accelerated Reader. Since districtwide implementation of Accelerated Reader in Cleveland during the 2008-09 school year, the percent of students scoring Proficient on the Ohio Achievement Assessments (OAA) has been on the rise, and a closer look at the data shows students who used Accelerated Reader saw their scaled score points improve an average of 0.13 points for every book read, 0.57 points for every additional minute of daily engaged reading time (ERT), and 0.66 points for every additional average percent correct (APC). Also included are powerful quotes from the educators using Accelerated Reader. REPORTING EDUCATOR: Eric Gordon, Chief Academic Officer. The report is available online: <https://docs.renaissance.com/R45891>.

DETAILS: Location: AL, TX, OK, KS, NV, NC, OH, and PA; Design: Independent, assessment research; Sample: Staff from 12 schools in 8 states; Measures: Direct costs, opportunity costs. RESULTS: Christensen Associates conducted a study to determine the true costs associated with widely used early literacy, reading, and mathematics assessments: Star Early Literacy, Star Reading, Star Math, Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS), Wireless Generation mCLASS DIBELS, AIMSweb, and the Texas Primary Reading Inventory (TPRI). The researchers interviewed staff from 12 schools in 8 states to calculate the average costs of using the tests. Two types of costs were measured: direct costs (the price of testing materials, licensing fees, and/or fees for access to scoring and reporting services), and opportunity costs (time to administer, score, and report results; time that could be spent on instruction if testing was not taking place). The results confirmed, both in terms of direct costs and opportunity costs, that Star Early Literacy, Star Reading, and Star Math, computer-adaptive assessments, are much more cost effective than DIBELS, other assessments; ranging from approximately one-half the cost of AIMSweb and about one-sixth the cost of paper TPRI. AUTHOR: Laurits R. Christensen Associates.Email research@renaissance.com to request a copy of this study or summary from the Renaissance Research Department.

This study aimed to assist school leaders in identifying which diagnostic reading measures will best identify students at risk of not passing the Ohio Third Grade Reading Achievement Assessment. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of students performance on five district diagnostic reading measurement tools (1) KRA-L; (2) AIMS probes from second grade administration; (3) DRA literacy assessment; (4) Star Reading Assessment from second grade; (5) standards based report card indicators and their performance on the October administration of the Ohio Third Grade Reading Achievement Assessment. Cramer found that for every subgroup, except students with disabilities, Star Reading best predicts passage on the Ohio Third Grade Reading Achievement Assessment. Citation: Cramer, T. M. (2010). Predicting student success on the third grade reading achievement assessment in Ohio [Doctoral dissertation]. Bowling Green State University.The full dissertation is available online: <http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1288117628>.The Summary of this study is available online: <https://docs.renaissance.com/R52801>.