Phonics based reading program shows potential

"Sound Partners (Vadasy et al., 2004) is a phonics-based tutoring program that provides supplemental reading instruction to elementary school students grades K–3 with below average reading skills. The program is designed specifically for use by tutors with minimal training and experience." According to the WWC's examination of 7 studies that met evidence standards (with or without reservation), "Sound Partners was found to have positive effects on alphabetics, fluency, and comprehension and no discernible effects on general reading achievement on beginning readers." A tabular summary of the results is here: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/reports/beginning_reading/sound_partners/