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A Study of a Mid-Atlantic School District: Using Newsela Social Studies Promotes Growth in Both Social Studies and ELA
December 18, 2025
Measurable Instructional Gains in Social Studies and Literacy
This independent mixed-methods study by WestEd analyzed student engagement with Newsela Social Studies features. Findings show that regular use is associated with measurable instructional gains across content knowledge and literacy skills, equating to 2–7 months of additional instruction.
Key Findings: Instructional Gains
+2–3 Months
6th-grade students engaging with scaffolded texts in Social Studies.
+3–5 Months
6th-grade students completing two or more writing prompts.
+5–7 Months
8th-grade students frequently using quizzes and platform features.
+4–5 Months
7th-grade students averaging above 74% on Newsela quizzes (ELA impact).
Who Should Use This Study?
District Admins • Curriculum Leaders • Social Studies Coordinators • Research Teams
A Study of a Mid-Atlantic School District: Using Newsela Social Studies Promotes Growth in Both Social Studies and ELA
Measurable Instructional Gains in Social Studies and Literacy
This independent mixed-methods study by WestEd analyzed student engagement with Newsela Social Studies features. Findings show that regular use is associated with measurable instructional gains across content knowledge and literacy skills, equating to 2–7 months of additional instruction.
Key Findings: Instructional Gains
+2–3 Months
6th-grade students engaging with scaffolded texts in Social Studies.
+3–5 Months
6th-grade students completing two or more writing prompts.
+5–7 Months
8th-grade students frequently using quizzes and platform features.
+4–5 Months
7th-grade students averaging above 74% on Newsela quizzes (ELA impact).
Who Should Use This Study?
District Admins • Curriculum Leaders • Social Studies Coordinators • Research Teams