As public school accountability for student achievement has continued to increase, prior to and as a result of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, schools have sought ways of bringing new instructional services to their students to raise their levels of achievement. This doctoral study investigated the effects of one such attempt in a large school district in Western Pennsylvania, the PSSA Prep Program.
Data were collected on one class of students who participated for one year in the program as juniors and compared with students who were not participants. Similar comparisons between participants and non-participants were made within the economically disadvantaged subgroup. Comparisons were also made between economically disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged participants. Two-way Analyses of Variance (ANOVAs) were conducted on both the eleventh-grade reading and mathematics PSSA assessments to make these comparisons. Interviews were conducted to determine participants' perceptions regarding specific components of the PSSA Prep Program.
Based on the results of the study, participation in the PSSA Prep Program provided positive effects for both reading and mathematics when accounting for the total sample studied. When considering only economically disadvantaged students, participation provided positive results in mathematics, but not in reading. Overall, improved achievement for participants in both reading and mathematics was not influenced by economic status. Participants' interview responses indicated that providing additional time for study of reading and mathematics during the school day, small group size, and instruction targeted to deficits identified through assessment all provided positive benefits in raising their achievement. Computer-aided instruction was identified as a component that did not have a positive impact.