Research & Efficacy

In another study, regular engagement with Newsela Social Studies features was linked to significantly improved ELA scores in grades 6 through 8. Students who engaged with key Newsela Social Studies features—such as quizzes, annotation tools, and writing prompts—consistently scored higher on spring ELA assessments across all grades.

Newsela Social Studies helps students engage with content that contextualizes the past, promotes inquiry, and is filled with multiple and diverse perspectives. Teachers build lessons from standards-aligned resources and an extensive library of content that is both relevant and accessible to students.

In a third-party research study, teachers reported they used Newsela Writing’s automated scoring to focus comments and feedback when conferencing with students and to develop their instructional practice.

Newsela Writing supports classroom instruction by providing students with guidance on key aspects of their writing while also offering tailored, immediate, and ongoing feedback.

District-created common assessments, implemented in Formative, can be a flexible and effective way to measure student achievement. In a study of racially and ethnically diverse high school students, district-created interim assessments were strongly correlated with concurrent ACT performance in all four subjects (English, Reading, Math, & Science). Across all subjects, a gain of 10 points on interim common assessments was associated with students being about 50% more likely to hit their ACT benchmark.

Balanced Assessment by Formative provides a flexible way to deliver instruction and assess student progress in real-time, allowing for in-the-moment feedback and support. Greater visibility enables data-driven instruction and educator collaboration that further supports student growth.