The Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (IMSE) today announced that its Morphology+ program has been certified to fulfill ESSA evidence standards by improving literacy outcomes for elementary students. 

LXD Research, an independent organization, evaluated IMSE’s Morphology+ program and concluded that it meets the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Level 2 “Promising Evidence” standard as defined by the Evidence for ESSA initiative at the Center for Research and Reform in Education at Johns Hopkins University. The findings derive from multiple efficacy studies examining the program’s impact on elementary students’ reading achievement. 

LXD researchers investigated the impact of IMSE’s Morphology+ on 206 third-grade students who previously received IMSE’s OG+ in second grade. The study was conducted across four schools in a Title I district. Researchers compared outcomes for students in the Morphology+ group with outcomes for students who received standard literacy instruction.

Study results indicate that students taught using the Morphology+ program demonstrated improvements in reading achievement, including stronger performance on nationally recognized and state literacy assessments.

On the NWEA MAP reading assessment, students receiving Morphology+ instruction showed gains in key literacy subdomains, including vocabulary (+2.9 points) and informational text comprehension (+2.8 points). These gains correspond to approximately one additional month of academic growth compared with peers receiving standard instruction.

The study also found meaningful improvements on the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) state assessment. Students taught by Morphology+-trained teachers demonstrated stronger overall performance and particularly significant gains in listening comprehension (+10.3 points)—equivalent to roughly three additional months of academic growth. These results highlight the program’s impact on students’ listening comprehension and their ability to process increasingly complex language.

“These results reinforce the importance of explicit instruction in word structure and academic language,” said Laura Fischer, Chief Academic Officer at IMSE. “Morphology is essential for helping students decode complex words, build vocabulary, and comprehend increasingly challenging texts. This research shows that when teachers receive structured training and practical tools, students benefit in measurable ways.”

Morphology+ is designed for grades 3–5 and builds on IMSE’s Orton-Gillingham Plus (OG+), which focuses on foundational reading skills for grades K–2. Together, the programs create a coherent Structured Literacy continuum, supporting students as they move from foundational decoding to advanced word analysis, vocabulary development, and reading comprehension.

IMSE’s full K–5 product line, OG+ for grades K–2 and Morphology+ for grades 3–5, is validated by research on the Evidence for ESSA website. Both programs are uniquely designed to provide teacher training and instructional materials for foundational literacy and morphology. This comprehensive approach ensures educators have not only the tools but also the knowledge to implement effective, research-aligned literacy instruction, resulting in stronger student outcomes.

In practice, this impact is reflected in classrooms. The research also included surveys and interviews with educators implementing the program. Teachers reported that students' ability to analyze word parts, recognize morphemes, and independently apply these skills when reading complex texts had improved.

As districts nationwide seek evidence-based literacy solutions aligned with the science of reading, programs with demonstrated impact on student outcomes are increasingly important. Evidence for ESSA reviews education research to help educators identify programs that meet federal evidence requirements for funding and implementation decisions.

The Morphology+ program contributes to IMSE’s growing evidence base and supports its continued leadership in Structured Literacy instruction grounded in the science of reading. For 30 years, IMSE has partnered with thousands of schools and districts across the country to provide professional learning and instructional programs that translate literacy research into classroom practice. By equipping teachers with explicit, multisensory strategies, IMSE helps educators strengthen literacy instruction and improve outcomes for all students.

For more information about IMSE and its Structured Literacy programs, visit imse.com.