WestEd Report Shows The Electric Company Lights Up Summer Learning

Education Week — June 18, 2012

Today's kids enjoy entertainment franchises that span movies, books, and video games. Think Harry Potter. That same package of media might help kids learn, as well.

WestEd served as the evaluator for a new, multimedia math program for summer schools from PBS, CPB, and Sesame Workshop. This program, targeting first and second graders, is based on The Electric Company television show.

This initial study showed impressive student gains in numeracy skills, mathematics vocabulary, and phonics skills.

Based on these results, the program is being expanded this summer from 16 to 25,000 sites across the United States.

Download the executive summary, report body, and/or highlights.