Research and Efficacy
Research and efficacy

Accelerate student learning

Newsela products are proven to be effective for all learners by rigorous studies aligned to ESSA tiers for evidence.

Committed to delivering evidence-based products

We pride ourselves on conducting robust and rigorous qualitative and quantitative research to ensure that our solutions are engaging and effective.

Elementary students showed major literacy gains with weekly use

This ESSA Tier II study examined literacy skill growth of elementary students in Dexter Community Schools in Michigan. Researchers compared students who used Newsela ELA weekly to a control group and found 4th-grade Newsela users achieved about three additional months of literacy skill growth compared to their non-Newsela peers. Newsela classes also read 44% more nonfiction texts than comparison classes.

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Diverse set of middle school students experienced literacy growth

This ESSA Tier II study compared about 2,500 diverse middle school students in a large urban district in California — half who used Newsela ELA twice per week, and half who did not use it at all. Newsela users scored higher than non-users on their state assessment by the equivalent of about 4 percentile points. Among Hispanic/Latino students, Newsela users outscored non-users by about 5 percentiles.

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Middle school students showed 2x expected outcomes on state social studies exam

This ESSA Tier II study compared eighth grade students who used Newsela Social Studies weekly to their non-Newsela peers. The positive impact on achievement for Newsela users was the equivalent of an additional year of instruction, and was consistent across student race, gender, and language status.

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Dive deeper into the evidence

EFFICACY STUDY

How Newsela ELA Closed the Achievement Gap in Ohio

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EFFICACY STUDY

Pronounced gains for Hispanic students

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EFFICACY STUDY

Accelerated learning in just three weeks

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VALIDITY REPORT

Quizzes predict interim assessment performance

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VALIDITY REPORT

Newsela performance predicts i-Ready® scores

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THIRD-PARTY STUDY

Formative use associated with secondary-level math gains

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Rooted in Research

LOGIC MODEL

Newsela ELA

Drive literacy outcomes for every learner.

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LOGIC MODEL

Newsela Social Studies

Build knowledge and skills to support college, career, and civic readiness.

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LOGIC MODEL

Writing

Develop students as writers with real-time writing support and feedback.

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RESEARCH BASIS

Newsela instructional content platform

Grounded in the learning sciences and the science of reading.

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