CAPIT Reading: Proven to Accelerate Early Literacy Development and Kindergarten Readiness

An Evaluation by Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Research and Reform in Education (JHU CRRE) in one of the nation’s largest school districts.

Study Overview

Johns Hopkins University conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the CAPIT Reading Curriculum in pre-kindergarten classrooms within a large Florida school district. The study examined:

  • The impact of CAPIT on early literacy growth and kindergarten readiness.

  • Teachers' experiences using CAPIT and their perceptions of its effectiveness.

  • Student performance on the FAST Star Early Literacy Exam.

  • A total of 1,488 pre-kindergarten students in over 80 schools in Orlando, Florida, recorded at least some level of CAPIT usage during the 2023-24 school year. This group of students was compared against a total of 858 pre-kindergarten students who did not receive any instruction through CAPIT during the outlined time period.

Key Findings

Student Achievement: CAPIT Students Significantly Outperformed Their Peers

  • Students using CAPIT grew faster on the FAST Star Early Literacy Exam than non-CAPIT students.

  • CAPIT students gained an additional 13.73 scale score points, equal to 15 extra days of learning.

  • CAPIT students were 46% more likely to be kindergarten-ready than non-CAPIT students.

Impact of Frequent CAPIT Use

  • Students who used CAPIT for at least 30 days gained 41.19 additional scale score points of growth, equivalent to 46 extra days of learning over a 180-day school year, compared to students who did not use the program. This translates to an additional 2 months of learning.

  • For every 10 extra days of CAPIT use, students gained 14.2 additional scale points.

  • The more students engaged with CAPIT, the greater their literacy gains.

  • Statistical models controlled for students’ gender, race/ethnicity, IEP status, age, baseline reading performance on the FAST Star exam, and economic status.

Teacher Survey: CAPIT is Highly Effective and Well-Received

  • 90% of teachers reported that CAPIT improved students' alphabetic knowledge, phonemic awareness, and phonics skills.

  • 80% of teachers said CAPIT enhanced students' decoding abilities.

  • Over 90% of teachers want to continue using CAPIT next year.

  • Teachers praised CAPIT’s systematic Sound-to-Print approach and mastery-based learning model and reported that their students find CAPIT lessons and activities to be engaging.

Why This Matters

This study provides clear, research-backed evidence that CAPIT accelerates early literacy development. CAPIT’s approach ensures that students are:

✅ Engaged and motivated in their learning.
✅ Building strong foundational literacy skills.
✅ Better prepared for kindergarten and beyond.

Read the Study

Join the Schools and Districts Already Seeing Success with CAPIT Reading!

To learn more about how CAPIT can enhance early literacy in your district, contact us today.