Significant ELA Gains Across Grades 3–5 in Rutherford County with Kiddom
Behind the Numbers: Why it Worked
Rutherford County achieved statistically significant ELA gains across all tested grades and key student groups, including English Learners and Economically Disadvantaged students. These improvements, equivalent to approximately three months of additional learning, highlight the power of evidence-based curriculum delivered through Kiddom’s intuitive platform. By streamlining planning and instruction, Kiddom empowers educators to implement with fidelity and accelerate literacy outcomes at scale.
Key Findings
On average, ELA proficiency across Grades 3–5 increased from 39% to 48% (+9 percent), a statistically significant gain (p < 0.001). This improvement reflects a small-tomoderate effect size, equivalent to approximately three additional months of learning.
Student Gains By Grade
From pre-adoption (2018–2019) to full implementation (2023–2024), ELA proficiency improved across all tested grades:
- Grade 3: 40% → 44.3% (+4.3%, p < 0.001)
- Grade 4: 38.4% → 54.2% (+15.8%, p < 0.001)
- Grade 5: 38.9% → 45.7% (+6.8%, p < 0.001)
These statistically significant gains underscore the effectiveness of high-quality instructional materials and sustained implementation support.
*Kiddom's OUR EL Curriculum
Impact on Economically Disadvantaged & English Learners
Economically Disadvantaged students and English Learners made statistically significant gains in ELA proficiency following full implementation (Figure 2). These improvements reflect meaningful academic growth among historically underserved groups and underscore Kiddom’s ability to increase access and deliver impact across diverse learning populations.
- Economically Disadvantaged: 27% → 33% (+6%, p < 0.001)
- English Learners: 35% → 44% (+9%, p < 0.001)
Rutherford County at a Glance
Rutherford County School District is a suburban district in Tennessee serving approximately 51,000 students across 51 schools. The district implemented Kiddom’s EL Education curriculum in Grades 3–5 beginning in the 2019–2020 school year. Kiddom evaluated impact by comparing TNReady ELA proficiency rates from pre-adoption (2018–2019) to full implementation (2023–2024).
Success stories
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