A Trial Evaluation of SWELL (Schoolwide Early Language and Literacy): a whole class early literacy program for at‐risk and disadvantaged children

An evaluation of the Schoolwide Early Language and Literacy program (SWELL) was undertaken in four schools. Two schools participated in the SWELL program in the kindergarten year. The other two schools pursued the regular kindergarten curriculum. Pre‐ and post‐tests were made on a sample of kindergarten students in all four schools (between‐school evaluation). Post‐tests only were performed on a sample of Year 1 students who had not been exposed to SWELL (within‐schools evaluation). End‐of‐year assessments indicated that experimental students outperformed control students on words read in context, but not on words read in isolation (between‐schools evaluation). A similar but non‐significant trend was observed between kindergarten and Year 1 students in the experimental schools, but was not evident for control schools (within‐schools evaluation). Implications for at‐risk and disadvantaged students are discussed.