Achieving ROI with i-Ready: Defining Success and Delivering the Impact Students Deserve

Gigi Goodall

Director, Sales

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Identify a Theory of Action

Determine appropriate goals and measures

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Agenda

Review the essential steps for conducting a Return on Investment study using i-Ready

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Northern California i-Ready Educator Summit

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Defining Return on Investment (ROI)

• ROI measures the effectiveness of educational investments by evaluating the financial and non-financial returns relative to the costs incurred.�
• Traditional ROI calculations in education often focus on isolated programs or interventions, linking specific evaluation outcomes to related costs in a one-time analysis.

Source: https://www.erstrategies.org/tap/roi-in-edu

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Academic Return on Investment (ROI)

• Academic ROI is measured by comparing student growth as a result of a particular program to student growth without the program.�
• What program when implemented with fidelity worked, for whom, and at what cost?

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Problem of Practice

Determine the Need

• Does the problem focus on the instructional core?
• Is it observable?
• Is it within the school or district control and can be improved in real time.
• If acted on, will the problem make a significance for student learning?

Gather Input

Determine the Need

Assemble a network of concerned stakeholders to:

• Ask relevant questions concerning the problem of practice.
• Examine current state and determine what needs to change.
• Develop objectives.
• Reach out to wider group for confirmation.

Program Selection

Determine the Need

Which program will address the need

• Is there evidence the program can generate the desired results?
• What are the key features/ components that align to the identified need?
• How does the program support other district initiatives? Is there coherence amongst everything you are doing?

The “F” Word

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Steps to Take

1. Define a Theory of Action.�
2. Take an inventory

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• Articulate what’s most critical for effective implementation of the strategy/program.�
• Craft Professional Learning plans.�
• Identify Success Metrics and Gather Data.�
• Develop a system to monitor progress�
• Evaluate.

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Developing a Theory of Action

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Theory of Action

1. Begin with a statement of causal relationship

Key beliefs and values

If we …

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• Identify the chain of reasoning that explains how actions will lead to desired outcomes (Logic Model)

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Inputs Activities Outcomes

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If students use program X with fidelity, then teachers � will be able to do Y and students will achieve Z results � because …

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• By when

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Program Implementation

Outputs vs Outcomes: Which do you typically measure?

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Outputs

What You Produce – Immediate Results

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Definition: Tangible, measurable, and direct results of an investment.

Focus: Quantity, efficiency, and immediate metrics.

Examples:

• Number of students using blended learning software.
• Number of teachers trained
• Number of lessons completed.
• Student logins and engagement rates in online platforms.

Outcomes

What You Achieve – Long-Term Impact

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Definition: The deeper, long-term impact or change resulting from an investment.

Focus: Quality, effectiveness, and student success.

Examples:

• Improved student proficiency and test scores.
• Increased student engagement and motivation.
• Higher graduation rates or long-term academic success.
• Better teacher adoption and instructional effectiveness.

Good ROI analysis tracks both!

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Define Inputs/Process Outcomes

Program Implementation

1. What does it mean to use the program with fidelity?�
2. What are the minimum usage necessary to get results?�What did we see in our data?�
3. Do we have the structure or systems to support fidelity?�

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• What motivational constructs should be in place to enable behavior change?

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• What organizational barriers may exist that prevent the inputs/process outcomes to be accomplished?�
• What are we doing to address/build new habits?

Craft Professional Learning Plan

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Professional Learning

Importance of Professional Learning

1. What are the practices educators need to adopt to be successful?
2. Do they know the why of the program?
3. What are the minimum requirements to generate an impact?
4. What are the routines that need to be established?

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Steps to Take

1. Define a Theory of Action.�
2. Take an inventory

​

• Articulate what’s most critical for effective implementation of the strategy/program.�
• Craft Professional Learning plans.�
• Identify Success Metrics and Gather Data.�
• Develop a system to monitor progress�
• Evaluate.

​

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Key Considerations…

When Evaluating

What is the effect size of the impact?

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Is our comparison group sizeable and similar to treatment group?

What other benefits did we gain by using the program that was not quantified?

Tailored Professional Learning

Customized Reports

Monthly Check Ins

Multilingual Family Webinars

Monthly Celebrations

Community Engagement Bulletin Boards

Our professional learning team will deliver 3 tailored sessions per school, aligning with promising practices identified by teachers and leaders.

Our data team will share weekly progress reports with Priti, Chin, and Raquel to distribute to site leaders.

The i-Ready Team will meet monthly with district and/or school leaders to review data and calibrate on next steps.

Our team will host two family webinars within the year with interpreters for Milpitas' top five languages.

We’ll provide materials and support for school bulletin boards to showcase i-Ready progress within each school community.

Monthly recognition will be shared for the school with the highest K-3 lesson pass rate, featuring character visits and certificates.

i-Ready Team Commitments �Supporting Teachers and Students with Using Personalized Instruction with Fidelity

Professional Learning Attendance

Leadership Support

Consistent Monitoring

Fidelity of Use

Ensure all K-3 teachers attend all three professional learning sessions provided within the year, making sure to track attendance.

Invite district leaders, school leaders and teacher leaders to participate in ongoing leadership support sessions and meetings.

Teachers and leaders log in weekly to monitor usage and progress—teachers for students, leaders for both.

Ensure students

• Complete lessons for 18 consecutive weeks
• Spend 30-49 minutes weekly on lessons
• Pass 70-100% of the lessons they take.

Sample District Commitments