Seeing Stars® Recognized by IES What Works Clearinghouse: A Milestone for Evidence-Based Reading Instruction
The Seeing Stars®: Symbol Imagery for Phonological and Orthographic Processing in Reading and Spelling program, authored by Lindamood-Bell co-founder Nanci Bell, has earned a place on the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC), a trusted resource established by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). This recognition is a significant milestone for educators, administrators, and families seeking effective, research-supported reading interventions.
What Is the What Works Clearinghouse?
The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Education designed to identify evidence-based education programs and practices. It reviews rigorous research studies using transparent and standardized criteria, helping schools make data-informed decisions about instruction.
Inclusion in the What Works Clearinghouse means that a program has been evaluated for effectiveness and that its research meets high standards for quality and rigor.
What Is the Seeing Stars® Program?
Seeing Stars® focuses on strengthening symbol imagery— the ability to visualize sounds and letters in words as a basis for orthographic awareness, phonemic awareness, word attack, word recognition, spelling, and contextual reading fluency. The program targets students who struggle with reading fluency and spelling, including those with dyslexia or other language-based learning challenges.
Key features of Seeing Stars include:
- Multisensory instruction (visual, auditory, kinesthetic)
- Emphasis on symbol imagery for decoding and spelling
- Structured, cumulative skill development
- Intensive, individualized intervention model
How Does Seeing Stars® Differ From Other Reading Programs?
Seeing Stars develops symbol imagery as a foundational skill for reading. Often a critical missing piece in popular reading and dyslexia interventions, symbol imagery is explicitly and systematically developed for orthographic mapping, fast word retrieval, fluency, and global reading skills. Seeing Stars aligns with all instructional principles and components of a structured literacy approach (SLA). However, unlike many SLA interventions that focus predominantly on or overemphasize phonemic awareness, Seeing Stars systematically integrates phonological AND orthographic processing necessary for automaticity in word reading skills.
Why What Works Clearinghouse Recognition Matters
Being listed in the WWC validates Seeing Stars as a research-supported intervention. Educators, intervention specialists, and school leaders can now reference the program as an evidence-based option when designing literacy improvement plans or applying for federal and state funding.
According to the What Works Clearinghouse summary of research:
- The Seeing Stars program demonstrated potentially positive effects on reading fluency and comprehension, key components of literacy success.
- The reviewed studies met moderate to high standards of evidence, with measured gains in students’ ability to decode and read fluently.
Implications for Schools and Educators
Schools are increasingly required to use evidence-based interventions under policies such as the ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act). With Seeing Stars now included on the What Works Clearinghouse, districts can:
- Confidently adopt the program as part of Tier 2 or Tier 3 interventions in MTSS/RTI frameworks;
- Justify funding requests for targeted literacy support; and
- Integrate the program into special education and dyslexia services.
What Works Clearinghouse Endorses Seeing Stars
The inclusion of Seeing Stars on the IES What Works Clearinghouse is a testament to the program’s impact on students with reading difficulties. It bridges the gap between cognitive science and classroom practice, empowering educators with tools to help all learners become fluent, confident readers.
As schools continue to prioritize literacy, evidence-based programs like Seeing Stars will play a crucial role in building strong foundational skills—one visualized word at a time.
See more evidence of effectiveness for Seeing Stars.
Another program authored by Lindamood-Bell’s founders is also included on the What Works Clearinghouse list:
Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing (LiPS) program for Reading, Spelling, and Speech
Evidence-Based Solutions for Educators at Lindamood-Bell
Lindamood-Bell’s proven professional development equips educators with the skills they need to differentiate instruction, enhance student engagement, and support struggling readers with research-backed best practices.
Schedule a brief phone call with a program expert to learn more about Lindamood-Bell and our work with schools.
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