What the Research Says About Lexia’s Literacy Solutions

Balancing a tight budget with the need to provide equitable literacy instruction and to show measurable outcomes is just one of the challenges school administrators face. With so many priorities competing for attention and so many resource allocation decisions to make, school leaders need proof that any instructional resource they choose will deliver real results.

That’s why Lexia’s science of reading-based products—Lexia® Core5® Reading, Lexia® PowerUp Literacy®, Lexia® LETRS® Professional Learning, Lexia® Aspire Professional Learning, and Lexia English Language Development™—are not only rooted in research but also proven by it.

Here, we’ve rounded up key research findings that show exactly how Lexia® supports students’ literacy growth. School leaders can use these findings to make data-informed decisions about how best to implement Structured Literacy in their classrooms and what curriculum and professional learning solutions will work best for their teachers.

The Results Speak for Themselves: Evidence of Lexia’s Impact

The following data provide evidence that Lexia’s programs provide research-backed support to teachers, helping them drive literacy learning achievements across grade levels and student populations.

Lexia Core5 Reading

Rigorous research has confirmed Core5’s  ability to accelerate literacy growth for pre-K–5 students across all ability levels. Rated by Evidence for ESSA, Core5 has been the subject of more than 10 peer-reviewed efficacy studies during the past decade, demonstrating effect sizes between 0.06 and 0.53.

Lexia researchers analyzed data for 1,324,201 pre-K–5 students who used Core5 with fidelity during the 2023–2024 school year:

• The percentage of students performing at or above grade level more than doubled, increasing from 42% at the start of the year to 85% by year’s end 

• Among students who started two or more grade levels behind, 40% reached grade-level benchmarks within a single school year

• More than half (53%) of students who were two or more grade levels behind gained two or more grade levels in a single school year 

Educator feedback echoes these outcomes. A monthly survey of 3,247 educators and administrators who used Core5 during the 2023–2024 school year revealed:

• 93% of educators say Core5 is easy to use

• 84% say Core5 helps them more efficiently provide targeted instruction

• 80% say student outcomes are improving due to Core5

What the Research Shows: Not only is Core5 instructionally impactful, it is also educator-friendly. Educators’ survey responses are a strong signal that the program integrates well into classroom routines and supports teacher workflows rather than adding to their burden.

Lexia PowerUp Literacy

When students enter middle or high school unable to read at grade level, time is of the essence. Six peer-reviewed efficacy studies have proven that PowerUp helps teachers address students’ literacy skill gaps.

PowerUp has been rated by Evidence for ESSA for research regarding its effectiveness in accelerating literacy gains for students in grades 6–12 who are at risk of falling short of College- and Career-Ready Standards.

Researchers found these key outcomes among 48,033 U.S. students in grade 6–12 who used PowerUp during the 2023–2024 school year:

• Slightly half (51%) of students advanced three or more grade levels of skills in a single school year 

• The percentage of students with advanced (grade 6–8) literacy skills rose from 1% to 42%

• The number of students with advanced comprehension skills increased fivefold in a single year

In addition, among 1,247 educators surveyed monthly:

• 90% of educators say PowerUp is easy to use 

• 77% of educators say PowerUp helps them more efficiently provide targeted instruction

What the Research Shows: While catch-up growth is notoriously difficult for secondary school students, PowerUp is accelerating literacy growth, including high-level comprehension skills, at a significant scale. 

Lexia English Language Development

Multiple studies have confirmed Lexia English helps educators meet the needs of their K–6 Emergent Bilingual students. Students who use the Adaptive Blended Learning program, which focuses on speaking and listening, consistently outperform non-using peers on English language proficiency assessments, including CA ELD, TX ELPS, NY ELD, WIDA, and ELPA 21.  

During the 2023–2024 school year, Lexia researchers assessed the program’s impact on Emergent Bilingual students’ performance on two widely-used non-state-specific assessments, ELPA21 and WIDA.

Using the ELPA21 standards, researchers analyzed data for 19,205 students across 998 schools. Among students who used the program as recommended: 

• Approximately 25% advanced to the next proficiency band in the program

• For Emergent Bilingual learners who were newcomers to the country, that success rate shot up to 34% 

Using the WIDA standards, researchers also evaluated 79,796 students in 4,108 schools. The results were similar:

• Approximately 33% of the students who used the program as recommended advanced to the next proficiency band

• Among newcomer Emergent Bilingual learners, 32% achieved a similar level of growth

What the Research Shows: The two studies represented nearly 100,000 Emergent Bilingual students across more than 5,100 U.S. schools. 

Professional Development (Lexia LETRS Professional Learning and Lexia Aspire Professional Learning)

Lexia LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) and Lexia Aspire Professional Learning are research-backed solutions designed to equip educators with the resources and knowledge to deliver effective literacy instruction. 

LETRS provides early childhood and elementary educators and administrators with deep, practical understanding in the science of reading.

Aspire is a self-paced digital solution, accredited by the International Dyslexia Association® (IDA), built to help teachers in grades 4–8 across all content areas to accelerate students’ literacy skills.

During the 2023–2024 school year,

• 90% of educators who participated in LETRS said the content aligned with their professional role and goals

• 93% reported being able to apply what they’d learned directly to their work

• 91% felt confident implementing science of reading practices in the classroom

A 2023 study found that teachers who took LETRS training raised their performance on a Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS):

• Educators rose from a mean of 73% correct to 94% correct 

• The percentage of students in the study meeting PALS benchmarks increased from 68% to 82%

A survey of educators who received specialized training in adolescent reading instruction revealed: 

• 42% reported an improved ability to differentiate instruction

• 36% experienced a boost in classroom confidence

What the Research Shows: LETRS and Aspire drive educators’ understanding of the science of reading, improving instructional practices and literacy learning outcomes. 

Invest in What’s Proven To Work for Literacy Success

It’s non-negotiable for educators to have confidence in their instructional resources. When decisions about literacy solutions are grounded in evidence, school leaders have a proven strategy for students’ lasting literacy success.

Lexia’s commitment to evidence-based practices and measurable achievement means district leaders can invest with confidence. Investigate more research about Lexia’s effect on literacy learning or connect with one of our experts to discuss goals for your building.