The Costs and Impacts of 'Descubriendo la Lectura': Evidence from a Multisite Experimental Study
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| Title: | The Costs and Impacts of 'Descubriendo la Lectura': Evidence from a Multisite Experimental Study |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Geoffrey D. Borman (ORCID |
| Source: | Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness. 2025 18(3):739-768. |
| Availability: | Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 30 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | Institute of Education Sciences (ED) |
| Contract Number: | R305A160060 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Elementary Education Early Childhood Education Grade 1 Primary Education |
| Descriptors: | Elementary Schools, Grade 1, Intervention, English Learners, Spanish Speaking, Literacy, Reading Achievement, Reading Difficulties, Program Implementation, Expenditure per Student, Educational Finance, Program Costs, School Districts |
| Geographic Terms: | Arizona, California, Illinois, Texas, Wisconsin |
| DOI: | 10.1080/19345747.2024.2358824 |
| ISSN: | 1934-5747 1934-5739 |
| Abstract: | We estimate costs and impacts of "Descubriendo la Lectura" (DLL), an intervention designed to improve the literacy skills of Spanish-speaking first graders struggling with reading. Collecting cost data from 24 schools in seven districts across four states participating in a multisite randomized controlled trial of DLL, we used the ingredients method to identify all personnel and nonpersonnel resources and then assign costs to each ingredient. The average cost per student of DLL is approximately $7,120 (in 2022 dollars), with teacher and teacher leader personnel expenditures accounting for more than 90% of the total costs. Impact analyses from the student-level random assignment study suggest DLL has substantial effects on Spanish-language literacy achievement, with effect sizes from d = 0.23 to d = 0.91. Linking estimated costs and achievement impacts, the impact per $1,000 investment in DLL is between d = 0.03 and d = 0.13, and a cost between $7,824 and $30,957 per student is associated with a one standard deviation increase in student achievement. These estimates compare favorably with those found for other interventions with recent cost and impact data. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| IES Funded: | Yes |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1502025 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Abstract: | We estimate costs and impacts of "Descubriendo la Lectura" (DLL), an intervention designed to improve the literacy skills of Spanish-speaking first graders struggling with reading. Collecting cost data from 24 schools in seven districts across four states participating in a multisite randomized controlled trial of DLL, we used the ingredients method to identify all personnel and nonpersonnel resources and then assign costs to each ingredient. The average cost per student of DLL is approximately $7,120 (in 2022 dollars), with teacher and teacher leader personnel expenditures accounting for more than 90% of the total costs. Impact analyses from the student-level random assignment study suggest DLL has substantial effects on Spanish-language literacy achievement, with effect sizes from d = 0.23 to d = 0.91. Linking estimated costs and achievement impacts, the impact per $1,000 investment in DLL is between d = 0.03 and d = 0.13, and a cost between $7,824 and $30,957 per student is associated with a one standard deviation increase in student achievement. These estimates compare favorably with those found for other interventions with recent cost and impact data. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1934-5747 1934-5739 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/19345747.2024.2358824 |
