The Enhancing Treatment Utility in Instructional Consultation Problem Solving: Comparison of Alternate Assessment Technologies identifies and serves students with reading difficulties in grades 1-3. Specifically, the project is evaluating whether and how assessment information helps teachers teach students to read.

We are looking for teachers and students to participate in our research. Teachers play an essential role in our project. Teachers nominate students who are experiencing reading difficulties to participate in the project. Teachers, students, and the students' parent(s) must agree to participate. If they agree, we assign teachers and students to one of three assessment conditions. Teachers work with a consultant over a period of seven to ten weeks to: (1) discuss and define the primary areas of reading difficulty for the nominated students, (2) monitor the students' reading progress (3) select an intervention, based on the reading concern and consultant assessment, (4) implement the selected intervention for the nominated students, and (5) evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. Teachers are paid $50.00 for their participation when they complete all project activities.

Students also play an essential role in our project. We meet with students once per week, for 7 to 10 weeks, to complete math and reading assessments. The assessments are done at times that are convenient for students and teachers (e.g., during or after school, during free class time). Some students will participate in additional reading and math assessments, which will take about 30 minutes near the beginning and end of their participation. Most students look forward to the individual time they get to spend with consultants and teachers, and find the project enjoyable.

Parents also play an essential role in our project. Parents must consent to allow their child to participate, and they provide information such their perceptions of their child's reading difficulty. If they choose, parents can be involved in consultation sessions with teachers and consultants. We provide parents with a copy of all written reports, including a summary of children's reading assessment and intervention results at the completion of all project activities. We are available at any time to discuss questions or concerns. Most parents are pleased with the extra reading help that their children receive through our project, and appreciate suggestions that teachers pass along for reading practice at home, following the intervention.

If you live in or near Madison, Wisconsin, and are interested in participating, please click the links below to see specific details described in our consent forms. Or, contact our project for more information (see "Contact Us").

Teacher Consent

Parent Consent

Student Assent