Accelerated Reader™ (AR™) software makes the essential student practice component of any reading curriculum more effective. In using AR, practice time is personalized to each student’s individual level to ensure a high rate of success and is immediately followed by feedback to help educators target instruction. Personalized reading practice includes guiding students to books at appropriate levels, closely monitoring their progress, and intervening with appropriate instruction when necessary. Accelerated Reader software and AR Best Practices™ have been shown by scientifically based research to be effective in helping educators dramatically accelerate reading growth in K–12 classrooms. Numerous studies by independent researchers demonstrate that students’ reading abilities improve with the use of these tools, and that the performance gap between high-achieving and low-achieving students can be substantially reduced. The large evidence base supporting Accelerated Reader consists of a number of experimental and quasi-experimental research studies—generally considered by the research community to provide the strongest evidence of effectiveness and to be consistent with the definition of scientifically based research—and includes articles that have been published in peer-reviewed journals. The research evidence on Accelerated Reader has been favorably reviewed by the Florida Center for Reading Research, the National Center on Student Progress Monitoring, the National Dropout Prevention Center, and the What Works Clearinghouse, among others.
Currently, K-10th grade students take a STARS READING test once a month to monitor student achievement and student deficiencies through the reports that can be printed through the Accelerated Reader Program. (This information can be found under the 'Data' tab and 'Data Triangulation by Class' document section.)
In August of 2018, all K-12 teachers received professional development on the Accelerated Reader Program.