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Internal Research Supporting the Effectiveness of Integrated Thematic Instruction
Ten schools from across the United States were awarded Comprehensive School Reform Grants to implement Integrated Thematic Instruction beginning with the 2001-2002 School year. This report compares test score results for these ten schools from the baseline 2000-2001 year prior to implementing the grant through 2002-2003 test results. Each school is then compared to its district’s averages. Most of the comparisons are based on percentage of students at or above the proficient level on the state assessment.
70% of the schools showed gains in both reading and math at most grade levels. Some schools scored significant percentage growth, e.g., 27.8% in math and 11% in reading at one site, 14.9% in math and 10.9% in reading at another, and a 17% gain compared to a 22% drop in the district average at a third. Three schools showed gains across every grade tested in both reading and math while one school gained in all areas but one which showed a .7% drop in math. Three schools showed gains in two out of the three grades tested in both reading and math and in two of those schools their loss was less than the district average loss for that grade and subject area. One school showed increase in reading, but not in math in the two grades tested. Two schools showed declining or flat scores. "A Review of Test Scores for Ten Comprehensive School Reform Sites after Two Years Implementing Integrated Thematic Instruction", Cathey H. Frederick, Susan Kovalik & Associates, February 26, 2004.
"In September 2001 Susan Kovalik & Associates began partnering through Comprehensive School Reform grants with six Texas elementary schools to implement the whole school reform model, Integrated Thematic Instruction. Located throughout Texas, these Title I schools are demographically dissimilar - in a small town, in a rural area, on the urban fringe of a mid-sized city, in the center of a large city - but they are similar in that their third grade students have all shown growth in their state assessments. The greater gains in percent of students successful are in mathematics with Connally showing a rise of 31%, Brentwood a rise of 20% and New Summerfield a rise of 17%. The three schools showing the greatest gains in percent of students successful in reading are C.D. Landolt with an 11% gain, W.B. Travis with a 10% gain, and New Summerfield with a 9% gain. When compared to their district averages, the growth is even more remarkable. During a timeframe when district averages were flat or falling, five of these six schools were able to raise their 2002-2003 percent of students successful in reading higher than both the 2000-2001 and 2002-2003 district averages." "Scores Are Soaring at Texas CSR Sites", Cathey H. Frederick, Susan Kovalik & Associates, March, 2004.
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