The Costs and Impacts of 'Descubriendo la Lectura': Evidence from a Multisite Experimental Study

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Bibliographic Details
Title: The Costs and Impacts of 'Descubriendo la Lectura': Evidence from a Multisite Experimental Study
Language: English
Authors: Geoffrey D. Borman (ORCID 0000-0002-7039-8208), Iliana Brodziak de los Reyes, Trisha H. Borman, Scott Houghton, So Jung Park, Bo Zhu, Alejandra Martin
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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