--- title: "8 months language & literacy gains in 2 months: gold standard research study" description: Gold standard research study shows 88 students in grades 3-8 gained 8 month is language, reading & literacy in just 2 months of teaching using Fast ForWord image: https://www.learnfasthq.com/hubfs/Results%20Concept.%20Word%20on%20Folder%20Register%20of%20Card%20Index.%20Selective%20Focus..jpeg --- - [Blog](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog) - [Newsletter](https://www.learningbrainnews.com) - [Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/6bLMNOdd8r3x9Onx9gSubb) - [Free Resources](https://www.learnfasthq.com/free-learning-resources) - [Shop](https://learnfast-products.myshopify.com/) [![LearnFast](https://www.learnfasthq.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/LearnFast_logo.png?width=150&height=77&name=LearnFast_logo.png "LearnFast")](https://www.learnfasthq.com) - [Programs](https://www.learnfasthq.com/programs) - Results - [The Science](https://www.learnfasthq.com/science) - [The Research](https://www.learnfasthq.com/research) - [Success Stories](https://www.learnfasthq.com/success-stories) - Who we help - [Teacher](https://www.learnfasthq.com/teacher) - [Parent](https://www.learnfasthq.com/parent) - [Business](https://www.learnfasthq.com/business) - [How we help](https://www.learnfasthq.com/how-we-help) - [Connect](https://www.learnfasthq.com/connect) - [Blog](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog) - [Newsletter](https://www.learningbrainnews.com) - [Podcast](https://open.spotify.com/show/6bLMNOdd8r3x9Onx9gSubb) - [Free Resources](https://www.learnfasthq.com/free-learning-resources) - [Shop](https://learnfast-products.myshopify.com/) # 8 months language & literacy gains in 2 months: gold standard research study [Share this blog post on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I+found+this+interesting+blog+post&url=https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/8-months-language-literacy-gains-in-2-months-gold-standard-research-study) [Share this blog post on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/8-months-language-literacy-gains-in-2-months-gold-standard-research-study) [Share this blog post on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/8-months-language-literacy-gains-in-2-months-gold-standard-research-study) ![Picture of Peter Barnes](https://www.learnfasthq.com/hs-fs/hub/363641/file-691639901.jpg) [Peter Barnes](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/author/peter-barnes) [Fast ForWord](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/topic/fast-forword), [Learning Capacity Success Stories](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/topic/learning-capacity-success-stories) Can you get your struggling students to achieve 4 times the reading growth you would normally expect from 2 months of teaching? One group of primary and early high school students did last year. Read how in the article below, reproduced from [The Science of Learning Blog.](https://www.scilearn.com/new-research-shows-accelerated-reading-growth-in-boone-county-ky/) A “gold standard” research study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the Fast ForWord123 program on improving language and literacy skills. In the 2018-2019 school year, eighty-eight students in grades 3-8 from two Boone County Schools in USA participated in a randomised controlled trial. Students were randomly assigned to two groups: an experimental group that worked on the Fast ForWord product and a comparison group that did not work on it until after the study.  Research evaluators such as the What Works Clearinghouse consider this randomised controlled trial design a “gold standard study” that provides the strongest evidence about an intervention’s effectiveness. Students placed in the experimental group worked on Foundations exercises for 50 minutes per day, five days a week, in addition to using the Clear Fluency software for 20 minutes a day, two days a week for seven weeks, averaging a total of about 26 hours.  Foundations I, Foundations II, and Clear Fluency are components of the [Fast ForWord](https://www.learnfasthq.com/programs) program, an online evidence-based, adaptive reading and language program that targets reading, cognitive, and executive function skills to help struggling readers succeed in school. Students’ early reading skills were assessed at the beginning and end of the trial.  The results show that students in the experimental group who used the Fast ForWord product jumped from the **37th percentile to the 54th percentile**.  The experimental group improved by an average of **8 months in the 7.5 weeks** between assessments, compared to the 2 months improvement for the students in the comparison group. ![Fast ForWord improved early reading skills study](https://www.learnfasthq.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Fast%20ForWord%20improved%20early%20reading%20skills%20study.png?width=600&name=Fast%20ForWord%20improved%20early%20reading%20skills%20study.png) *Students who used the Fast ForWord123 program for 7.5 weeks improved their skills by 8 months, jumping from the 37th percentile to the 54th percentile.* The statistically significant results of this study support a substantial body of research that demonstrates the Fast ForWord program’s guided reading support, immediate feedback, and rigorous learning experiences lead to stronger language and reading skills. For more information, see the [research briefing](https://www.scilearn.com/wp-content/uploads/Briefing-Boone-FNDS1-RCT-Study-20Feb04-ok2s.pdf) on this study. See some of the 30+ years of multilevel neuroscience research and over 300 research studies supporting the Fast ForWord product [here](https://www.learnfasthq.com/research). ## Related Posts [![](https://www.learnfasthq.com/hs-fs/hubfs/brain-13380341-2.png?height=200&name=brain-13380341-2.png)](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/how-to-get-7-months-reading-gains-in-7-weeks) [Fast ForWord](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/topic/fast-forword), [Learning Capacity Success Stories](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/topic/learning-capacity-success-stories) ### [How to Get 7 Months Reading Gains in 7 Weeks](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/how-to-get-7-months-reading-gains-in-7-weeks) One of the largest school systems in the USA state of Alabama achieved average reading level gains of seven months in only 35 days. Students in 17 primary schools used a systemic, research-proven approach to reading intervention that developed [Read More](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/how-to-get-7-months-reading-gains-in-7-weeks) [![](https://www.learnfasthq.com/hs-fs/hubfs/hands%20up%20classroom%20uniform%20iStock_000059501620-2.jpeg?height=200&name=hands%20up%20classroom%20uniform%20iStock_000059501620-2.jpeg)](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/improving-student-learning-capacity-for-better-student-outcomes-and-more-satisfying-teaching) [Fast ForWord](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/topic/fast-forword), [Learning Capacity Success Stories](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/topic/learning-capacity-success-stories) ### [Improving Student Learning Capacity - for better student outcomes](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/improving-student-learning-capacity-for-better-student-outcomes-and-more-satisfying-teaching) Today's classroom is more academically diverse than over. And even though schools offer a variety of programs and resources some learners continue to perform below grade level. So how can teachers accelerate learning [Read More](https://www.learnfasthq.com/blog/improving-student-learning-capacity-for-better-student-outcomes-and-more-satisfying-teaching) [![LearnFast](https://www.learnfasthq.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/LearnFast_logo.png?width=150&height=77&name=LearnFast_logo.png "LearnFast")](https://www.learnfasthq.com/) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/LearnFastGroup/) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://au.linkedin.com/company/learnfastgroup) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.youtube.com/user/learnfasteducation) Connect with Us: **Phone:** 02 8467 4888 Email: info@learnfastgroup.com.au --- Copyright © 2026, LearnFast A & NZ [Privacy Policy](https://www.learnfasthq.com/privacy-policy)