Case Study: Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy achieves stronger decoding and reading confidence with Really Great Reading

Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy achieves 100% decoding growth with Really Great Reading

The Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy, a military-style residential program operated by the California National Guard and Orange County Department of Education, faced a significant challenge. Their adolescent cadets, who had experienced years of interrupted learning, entered the program significantly below grade level in reading. This impacted their confidence and engagement, and educators needed a consistent intervention approach to improve foundational skills. They partnered with Really Great Reading for a structured literacy solution.

Really Great Reading provided a structured literacy intervention focused on explicit, systematic instruction. The solution included diagnostic surveys, multisensory routines, and targeted small-group instruction to strengthen decoding and fluency. This implementation led to measurable results: 100% of students demonstrated decoding growth, with an average performance increase of 40%. Additionally, 71% of cadets showed growth in reading fluency, which rebuilt their confidence and engagement in academic instruction.

Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy