Case Study: 77% of At-Risk Third Graders Advance to Fourth Grade After Three Weeks Using Reading Eggs at Summer Camp

In June 2024, a group of 72 third-grade students at North Carolina Virtual Academy (NCVA) faced a critical challenge: they were at risk of not advancing to fourth grade due to low reading proficiency.

This scenario reflects a common concern for educators and parents.

The solution? A three-week summer camp featuring Reading Eggs, our evidence-based online reading program that turned the tide for these young learners.

The challenge: Bridging the literacy gap for at-risk third graders

NCVA identified students who required additional reading support based on the following criteria:

• Students who scored below 540 on either the End-of-Grade (EOG) or Read to Achieve (RTA) assessment.

• Students with a Lexile level below 725.

• Students who met the Lexile threshold but showed areas for improvement on other assessments.

The solution: Strategic implementation of Reading Eggs in a three-week summer program

NCVA designed a three-week program incorporating daily 30-minute sessions of the Reading Eggs suite — our comprehensive solution fully aligned with the Science of Reading, including:

• Fast Phonics: A systematic synthetic phonics program that reinforces foundational skills for both early readers and older students with knowledge gaps.

• Reading Eggs: Provides explicit, systematic instruction through personalised, engaging lessons covering essential literacy skills.

• Reading Eggspress: Enhances comprehension, spelling, fluency, vocabulary and grammar skills for students in Grades 2–5 through interactive activities and games.

The camp primarily used Reading Eggspress, while incorporating Reading Eggs and Fast Phonics to provide additional practice for students with gaps in their knowledge.

Data-backed success: Quantifiable improvements in reading proficiency

After just three weeks of Reading Eggs instruction, the results were remarkable:

• 77% of students successfully advanced to fourth grade after the summer camp.

• 73% demonstrated growth on the Dibels 8th Edition Reading Assessment.

• 86% of Reading Eggspress users experienced Lexile level improvements.

• Students completed an impressive 427 Reading Eggspress lessons.

These results confirm Reading Eggs as a powerful tool for targeted intervention, summer learning and year-round curriculum enhancement.

Educator perspectives: Engagement, enthusiasm and measurable progress

The impact of Reading Eggs extended beyond the numbers. NCVA Principal Kelly Shanahan and educators observed increased engagement and enthusiasm among students:

"It's important for young learners to have the time, resources and support needed to develop their reading skills. We're proud of the students for putting effort into these vitally important skills that will carry them into the future." – Kelly Shanahan, Principal

"The reports helped me see how much time they are spending on the program, their growth and what types of lessons they were on… I looked at the Time on Task report to shout out the 'rockstars' who went above and beyond on their time requirement." – Stephanie Griffin, Teacher

Whether you're an educator looking to boost your students' reading skills or a parent seeking effective tools for home learning, Reading Eggs offers a proven solution backed by real results.

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