Boost Reading (formerly Amplify Reading) immerses students in an engaging game world while delivering the skills practice and supports they need to become proficient readers. While students are making progress in the game world and receiving personalized feedback, teachers receive meaningful data to track their growth.

Despite our district’s dedicated efforts to improve literacy outcomes, a significant percentage of our students continue to read below grade level. Based on our most recent benchmark assessments, 28% of K–5 students are performing at least one grade level below expectations in foundational reading skills, with the most significant gaps appearing in vocabulary acquisition, decoding, and comprehension. Historical data over the last three years shows minimal growth in these areas, even with targeted interventions, indicating that our current approaches are insufficient to meet the needs of all learners. Our student population consists of 59% economically disadvantaged students, 18% English language learners, and 18% students receiving special education services. Research indicates that students in these subgroups are disproportionately impacted by gaps in foundational literacy skills, creating long-term academic disadvantages and limiting opportunities for future success. Parent and teacher surveys confirm a need for more engaging, personalized tools to help students build reading confidence and proficiency. Currently, reading intervention is often limited by staffing constraints, fixed schedules, and the inability to provide differentiated instruction at scale. Many students require additional practice and individualized feedback outside of small-group instruction, which is not always feasible in the classroom setting. Boost Reading directly addresses these gaps by providing a highly engaging, game-based platform that immerses students in adaptive reading practice tailored to their skill level. The program offers real-time feedback for students while equipping teachers with actionable data to monitor growth and adjust instruction.

To address persistent gaps in reading proficiency and engagement at Newport Elementary, this project will implement Boost Reading, an adaptive, game-based literacy program designed to meet each learner at their level. Our goal is to accelerate reading growth and ensure that all students, especially those performing below grade level, receive the personalized support they need to succeed. Boost Reading creates a personalized and highly engaging learning environment that adapts to each student’s reading level and skill progression. The program’s game-based design captures students’ attention, motivating even reluctant readers to persist through challenging tasks. Real-time data allows teachers to identify gaps and provide immediate, targeted interventions. 
Research indicates that adaptive digital learning tools improve literacy outcomes by offering differentiated practice that aligns with each learner’s unique pace and needs (Shute & Rahimi, 2017; Pane et al., 2015). By supplementing small-group instruction with individualized, interactive practice, Boost Reading enables students to master phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension—the key building blocks of proficient reading. Grant funds will be used to purchase Boost Reading licenses, provide teacher training, and secure necessary technology upgrades. The program will be implemented across all 1st and 2nd grade classrooms, reaching approximately 236 students. Daily Practice: Students will engage in Boost Reading for 20–30 minutes, three to four times per week, in both classroom literacy blocks and intervention periods. 
Teacher Support: Teachers will receive initial and ongoing professional development to interpret data dashboards, group students effectively, and integrate program insights into guided reading instruction. Progress Monitoring: Student growth will be assessed quarterly through district benchmarks and program analytics, allowing for timely instructional adjustments. Family Engagement: Parents will be provided with updates on student progress and guidance on supporting reading at home. This project directly supports Crosby ISD’s mission to personalize learning and close achievement gaps. By combining engaging, adaptive technology with teacher-led instruction, Boost Reading provides equitable access to differentiated reading practice for all students, including economically disadvantaged learners, English language learners, and students with special needs, who make up a significant portion of our population. By the end of the first implementation year, we anticipate: 
A 15–20% reduction in the percentage of students reading below grade level. Increased student motivation and engagement, as measured by teacher surveys and program usage data. Enhanced teacher capacity to provide targeted, data-driven instruction. With a proven, research-based design and measurable growth targets, Boost Reading will significantly enrich the reading experiences of our students, laying a foundation for lifelong literacy success.