Common Questions about Read 180®
Read 180 is an intervention reading program notably known for helping students gain one or more years of average growth in one year. Read 180 has been the subject of continuous research and validation efforts for over two decades. The program has been demonstrated to improve students’ performance on standardized assessments, reduce dropout rates, and, overall, increase literary outcomes.
Read 180’s Origin, Purpose, and Efficacy
1. What is the Read 180 program?
Read 180 is a research-based, intensive reading program designed for students who are reading one or more years below grade level. It’s a comprehensive intervention curriculum that includes age-appropriate, teacher-led, adaptive instruction that incorporates foundational literacy, vocabulary, language, comprehension, and writing to achieve reading proficiency for students in Grades 3–12. Read 180 can be seamlessly integrated into both core and dedicated classrooms, offering flexibility to cater to diverse instructional settings.
2. What are Read 180’s implementation options?
Read 180 can be implemented flexibly: either in a dedicated classroom, within a core class, before or after school, or with a tutor. In dedicated intervention classrooms, the Read 180 instructional model supports Tier 2 and Tier 3 students by balancing whole-group instruction with small-group learning that is targeted to different skills based on students’ needs. In addition, students work independently and at their own pace within the Student App, where they receive instruction and practice. Students also have access to age-appropriate independent reading books in print and online.
Our newest offering, Read 180 Flex, includes access to the Student App and the online Bookshelf.
3. What grade level is Read 180?
Read 180 is available for students in Grades 3–12. The program is offered in three stages of instruction: Stage A (Grades 3–5), Stage B (Grades 6–8), and Stage C (Grades 9–12). Read 180 includes instruction for students in need of foundational skills through reading comprehension at grade level.
4. Is Read 180 an effective program?
Read 180 has been validated by over 100 studies that prove its effectiveness in raising reading achievement in older striving readers. The program has been given a rating of “Strong” by ESSA, which is the highest rating available. Numerous independent researchers have examined Read 180, demonstrating positive findings. What Works Clearinghouse follows the highest industry standards for educational research, and their independent meta-analysis found that Read 180 had positive effects on the comprehension and literacy achievement of adolescents reading below expectations.
The program was especially effective for Lilly, a former Read 180 student who attended the Charles Armstrong School in Belmont, California. This school serves students with language-based learning differences, such as dyslexia. When asked about her experience using the program, Lilly said, “When I first started using [Read 180], it was definitely a struggle. I think it felt like a chore at first, but as I started to see myself grow as a reader, it definitely clicked in my brain that ‘this is something that would really help me out,’ and it became easier and something that I wanted to do for myself.”
5. When was Read 180 created?
Read 180 was originally released in 1999, and over the past 20+ years, the program has been updated and enhanced. Read 180 has been redesigned to include explicit and systematic foundational skills instruction and practice on Ed, HMH’s learning platform.
6. Who created Read 180?
Read 180 was built on the research done by Dr. Ted Hasselbring of Peabody College, Vanderbilt University. The program was further developed with the expertise and experience of nationally recognized educational researchers and practitioners in the areas of adaptive technology, neuroscience, literacy, and mindset. Read 180 now includes the foundational skills scope and sequence developed with Dr. Marilyn Adams.
7. What is the goal of Read 180?
The goal of Read 180 is to accelerate the time it takes for students who are reading below grade level to reach reading proficiency, whether they have gaps in foundational skills or reading comprehension.
8. What does Read 180 assess?
Read 180 assesses all five pillars of the science of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension—as well as writing.
9. Is Read 180 based on the science of reading?
Yes, Read 180 is an intensive reading intervention program rooted in the science of reading research. The science of reading explores the cognitive and neurological processes in reading and how to effectively teach them. Read 180 aligns to all five pillars of the science of reading: Phonemic Awareness, Phonics, Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehension, as well as Writing. The program includes a research-based systematic scope and sequence of phonics and comprehension instruction.
Read 180 follows the science of reading principle of explicit and systematic instruction, providing step-by-step guidance in essential reading components while offering diverse practice opportunities.
Read 180 also incorporates Scarborough’s Rope Model into its instructional approach. The program utilizes both teacher-led instruction and student application software to enhance students’ reading skills in all strands of the rope model. By focusing on all the essential components of reading, Read 180 helps struggling readers build a strong reading foundation and improve their reading outcomes.
10. Are Read 180 and System 44® the same?
Now on Ed, HMH’s learning platform, Read 180 has been updated to include the explicit and systematic foundational skills instruction from System 44, developed with Dr. Marilyn Adams. Read 180 on Ed is an integrated solution that allows students to acquire phonics, fluency, and comprehension skills to reach grade-level proficiency.
Read 180’s User Experience
11. How do students and educators access Read 180?
Students and educators can access Read 180 anytime and anywhere directly from Ed, HMH’s online learning platform. Depending on the implementation, teachers and students have access to Read 180 or Read 180 Flex licenses. Read 180 Flex includes:
- Student Application from Phonics to Fluency to Comprehension
- Digital Independent Reading
- NWEA® MAP® Growth™ & Reporting
- Teacher Success Pathway
For dedicated intervention classrooms, Read 180 balances teacher-led curriculum with personalized, adaptive instruction and independent reading. It includes:
- Student Application from Phonics to Fluency to Comprehension
- Independent Reading—digital and print
- ReaL Books—lessons
- Language Launch (Newcomers)—digital
- NWEA MAP Growth & Reporting
- Getting Started & Teacher Success Pathway
12. Does Read 180 have an app?
No, Read 180 is accessible directly from internet browsers for devices with screens that are 7” or larger. A full list of supported browsers and operating systems for Read 180 on Ed can be found here.
13. Does Read 180 work on an iPad or tablet?
Yes, Read 180 is accessible from an iPad or tablet with a screen that is 7 inches or larger.
14. What is Read 180 like in middle school?
Read 180 Stage B is designed for students in Grades 6–8 and features engaging, age-appropriate content. When asked about why Read 180 is effective for middle school students, Sarah Fox, director of lower school and research at Charles Armstrong, stated: “Read 180 has provided such engaging content that the kids are interested in wanting to do the work, which is then upping their comprehension.”
15. What is Read 180 like in high school?
Read 180 Stage C is designed for Grades 9–12 students and features relatable content. High school students from the Clovis Unified School District in Clovis, California, shared various reasons why they like Read 180, including its adaptive technology and range of engaging texts. One student, Angel V., said: “[Read 180] really had a big impact on my life; it made me realize what reading is all about.”
16. What type of class is Read 180?
Read 180 is a reading intervention program that can be implemented during dedicated intervention class period(s) or within a core class. “[The program] is designed to be student-specific, so I can tailor the instruction directly to students’ needs because it’s leveled for each individual student,” said Read 180 teacher Vic. Soria from Modesto, California.
17. What are the zones in Read 180?
Read 180 includes a student application that organizes lessons into learning zones. For students with gaps in foundational skills, zones include Code, Word Strategies, High-Frequency Words, Success, and Writing. For students needing support in comprehension, zones include Explore, Reading, Language, Fluency, Writing, and Success.
18. How many levels are there in Read 180?
Read 180 includes foundational skills instruction and practice for students who lack phonics and decoding skills, and five or six reading levels for students in need of comprehension (five levels for Stage A, Grades 3–5, and six levels for Stages B and C, middle and high school, respectively).
19. How long is a Read 180 lesson?
Read 180 lesson lengths vary, depending on the complexity of the skills being addressed, but are designed to be taught within one or two class periods. Read 180 students also receive instruction and practice as they work independently and at their own pace in the student application for 15–20 minutes, three to five times per week.
Supporting Every Reader
20. Is Read 180 a special education program?
Read 180 has been used in special education settings and has been proven effective, but it is not only for students in special education. It has been proven successful across various classroom implementations with diverse student populations (eg, students with disabilities, multilingual learners, etc. More research on Read 180 can be found here.
Furthermore, the program has demonstrated its effectiveness in special education settings. One special education student, Eduardo G. from Spc. Rafael Hernando III Middle School in El Paso, Texas, explained: “When I first started using Read 180, it was like I discovered a whole new way of learning. My Lexile® scores kept increasing, and Read 180 changed my life!”
21. Is Read 180 effective for dyslexia?
Yes, research shows that Read 180 is highly effective in improving reading proficiency for dyslexic students and struggling readers. The program benefits students with dyslexia in general education, those receiving special education services, and even individuals without dyslexia, with significant growth in foundational literacy skills and reading comprehension. These gains are consistent across grade levels, including students with specific learning disabilities.
For Read 180 research studies focused on students with dyslexia, please visit here.
22. Is Read 180 Tier 2 intervention?
Yes, Read 180 is often used as a Tier 2 intervention program. It provides targeted support for students who require additional assistance in reading and literacy development. In the Response to Intervention (RTI) framework, Tier 2 interventions are designed to support students who need more specialized instruction beyond the core curriculum. Read 180’s adaptive nature and individualized approach make it suitable for addressing the needs of students in Tier 2 intervention settings, helping them improve their reading skills and overall literacy proficiency.
23. Is Read 180 Tier 3 intervention?
Yes, Read 180 can also be used as a Tier 3 intervention program. In the RTI framework, Tier 3 interventions are designed for students who require the most intensive and individualized support. Read 180’s adaptive and personalized approach makes it suitable for addressing the specific needs of students in Tier 3, offering targeted instruction to help them overcome significant challenges in reading and literacy. The program is designed to provide comprehensive support for students who may be significantly below grade level or facing more complex reading difficulties.
24. Is Read 180 a structured literacy program?
Yes, Read 180 on HMH’s Ed platform includes the explicit and systematic teaching of foundational skills for students in Grades 3–12.
25. Is Read 180 a balanced literacy program?
Balanced literacy is often used to mean a strictly whole language approach to learning to read. Read 180 is not a balanced literacy program. It is a structured literacy program based on the science of reading.
26. Does Read 180 teach phonics?
Yes, Read 180 includes a complete foundational skills scope and sequence that provides systematic and explicit phonics instruction. The program begins with phonemic awareness and moves into phonics, beginning with consonants and short vowels and progressing toward complete mastery of all 44 sounds and their common English spelling patterns.
27. Is Read 180 multisensory?
Yes. Read 180 consistently presents images and sounds alongside printed and electronic text, which provides continuous opportunities for learners to engage multiple senses. The HMH blending board and word-building kit give students hands-on opportunities to manipulate letters and morphemes and build words.
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Unlock whole-brain reading through Read 180, the leading reading intervention program for Grades 3–12.
NWEA® and MAP® are registered trademarks of NWEA. Lexile® is a trademark of MetaMetrics, Inc. Read 180®, System 44®, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt® and HMH® are registered trademarks of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
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