The purpose of this study was to understand the impact, implementation and costs associated with a one-semester elective lab course in 9th grade, Accelerating Literacy for Adolescents (ALFA) Lab, which seeks to improve students' reading achievement, particularly for those from economically disadvantaged communities. This study used three cohorts…

Five hundred twenty-six second through sixth graders were identified as needing supplementary reading instruction, their specific needs were diagnosed, and intensive prescriptive instruction was provided. A lab oriented learning center environment was prescribed which included a listening/viewing center, a decoding center, a game center, a library…

In school districts throughout the United States, at-risk students are receiving remedial instruction in learning centers outside the classroom. Because this separation increases the likelihood that students will receive a fragmented education, learning center staff should provide remedial students with "curricular congruence," or content and…