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A Third-Grade Intervention Model for Struggling Readers in Rural, Low-Income Mississippi Delta Schools

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Title: A Third-Grade Intervention Model for Struggling Readers in Rural, Low-Income Mississippi Delta Schools
Language: English
Authors: Claire Brindley (ORCID 0009-0009-8531-2014), Rachel Arthur (ORCID 0009-0000-0117-4414), Jonathan Bennett (ORCID 0000-0003-4493-369X), Mehdi Hajilo (ORCID 0000-0001-6240-4463), Wesley James (ORCID 0000-0003-0561-8005), Karen Matthews
Source: Grantee Submission. 2026 16.
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 25
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: Department of Education (ED)
Contract Number: U215N120032
U215N180011
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Early Childhood Education
Grade 3
Primary Education
Descriptors: Elementary School Students, Grade 3, Reading Difficulties, Intervention, Reading Instruction, Rural Schools, Low Income Students, Decoding (Reading), Reading Comprehension, African American Students, Small Group Instruction, Instructional Effectiveness
Geographic Terms: Mississippi
DOI: 10.3390/educsci16050761
Abstract: A substantial proportion of U.S. third graders cannot read at grade level. However, few models in the literature are known to be effective in ameliorating third-grade reading deficits, where learning to read shifts to reading to learn. This study presents findings from an evaluation of Literacy Fellows, a one-year, intensive, small-group reading intervention designed for third graders lacking decoding skills needed for comprehension. The study sample included 484 third-grade students from low-income, predominantly Black school districts, 120 of whom scored below the cutoff on a standardized, beginning-of-the-year reading test and were assigned to the Literacy Fellows intervention. The analytical sample draws on cohorts from the 2015-2016, 2016-2017, and 2017-2018 academic years. The effectiveness of Literacy Fellows was investigated using a quasi-experimental regression discontinuity design. The results indicate an improvement of 68 scale points (12 percentile rank points) on a third-grade reading test designed to determine readiness for entering the fourth grade for intervention students. The findings have policy implications for third-grade reading interventions that help foster grade-proficient reading, reduce equity gaps in reading success, and offer actionable suggestions, including the implementation of daily small-group, decoding-focused instruction for struggling third-grade readers in low-income school districts.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED680824
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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DbLabel: ERIC
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AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
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  Data: A Third-Grade Intervention Model for Struggling Readers in Rural, Low-Income Mississippi Delta Schools
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  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Claire+Brindley%22">Claire Brindley</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8531-2014">0009-0009-8531-2014</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rachel+Arthur%22">Rachel Arthur</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0117-4414">0009-0000-0117-4414</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jonathan+Bennett%22">Jonathan Bennett</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4493-369X">0000-0003-4493-369X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mehdi+Hajilo%22">Mehdi Hajilo</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6240-4463">0000-0001-6240-4463</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wesley+James%22">Wesley James</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0561-8005">0000-0003-0561-8005</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Karen+Matthews%22">Karen Matthews</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Grantee+Submission%22"><i>Grantee Submission</i></searchLink>. 2026 16.
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 25
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
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  Label: Sponsoring Agency
  Group: SrcSuprt
  Data: Department of Education (ED)
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  Label: Contract Number
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  Data: U215N120032<br />U215N180011
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Label: Education Level
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Early+Childhood+Education%22">Early Childhood Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+3%22">Grade 3</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Primary+Education%22">Primary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+School+Students%22">Elementary School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+3%22">Grade 3</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reading+Difficulties%22">Reading Difficulties</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intervention%22">Intervention</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reading+Instruction%22">Reading Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rural+Schools%22">Rural Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Low+Income+Students%22">Low Income Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Decoding+%28Reading%29%22">Decoding (Reading)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reading+Comprehension%22">Reading Comprehension</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22African+American+Students%22">African American Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Small+Group+Instruction%22">Small Group Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Instructional+Effectiveness%22">Instructional Effectiveness</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mississippi%22">Mississippi</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.3390/educsci16050761
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: A substantial proportion of U.S. third graders cannot read at grade level. However, few models in the literature are known to be effective in ameliorating third-grade reading deficits, where learning to read shifts to reading to learn. This study presents findings from an evaluation of Literacy Fellows, a one-year, intensive, small-group reading intervention designed for third graders lacking decoding skills needed for comprehension. The study sample included 484 third-grade students from low-income, predominantly Black school districts, 120 of whom scored below the cutoff on a standardized, beginning-of-the-year reading test and were assigned to the Literacy Fellows intervention. The analytical sample draws on cohorts from the 2015-2016, 2016-2017, and 2017-2018 academic years. The effectiveness of Literacy Fellows was investigated using a quasi-experimental regression discontinuity design. The results indicate an improvement of 68 scale points (12 percentile rank points) on a third-grade reading test designed to determine readiness for entering the fourth grade for intervention students. The findings have policy implications for third-grade reading interventions that help foster grade-proficient reading, reduce equity gaps in reading success, and offer actionable suggestions, including the implementation of daily small-group, decoding-focused instruction for struggling third-grade readers in low-income school districts.
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  Label: Abstractor
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  Data: As Provided
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  Label: Entry Date
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  Data: 2026
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  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: ED680824
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED680824
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  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.3390/educsci16050761
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 25
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Elementary School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 3
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Reading Difficulties
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intervention
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Reading Instruction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rural Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Low Income Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Decoding (Reading)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Reading Comprehension
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: African American Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Small Group Instruction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Instructional Effectiveness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mississippi
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: A Third-Grade Intervention Model for Struggling Readers in Rural, Low-Income Mississippi Delta Schools
        Type: main
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          Name:
            NameFull: Claire Brindley
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            NameFull: Rachel Arthur
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            NameFull: Jonathan Bennett
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            NameFull: Mehdi Hajilo
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            NameFull: Wesley James
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            – D: 01
              M: 05
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 16
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            – TitleFull: Grantee Submission
              Type: main
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