Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT06275815

Promoting Caregiver Implementation of an Effective Early Learning Intervention

The goal of this study is to examine the impact of a caregiver-implemented shared reading program, Sit Together and Read (STAR), on children ages 4 to 5 with developmental language disorder. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* how much STAR impacts children's literacy skills in the short-term and long-term--up to two-years after completing STAR. * how do caregiver supports in the form of small monetary rewards or encouraging texts help caregivers to implement STAR at its intended frequency of sessions per week.

Caregiver participants will be assigned to either a control group or one of three STAR groups. Children's skills related to literacy and learning will be assessed before the intervention starts, at the end of the intervention, and every six months post-intervention for two years.

Researchers will determine the short term and long term impacts of STAR compared to the control group. Researchers will compare the three STAR conditions to see if the rewards or encouragement helped parents to follow through with completing more STAR sessions.

Recruiting

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Conditions

Developmental Language Disorder Behavior Communication Communication Disorders Dyslexia Language Development Disorders Language Disorders Learning Disabilities Literacy Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurobehavioral Manifestations Neurodevelopmental Disorders Neurologic Manifestations Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Reading; Difficult Signs and Symptoms Specific Learning Disorder

Age range

48 month–71 month

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, United States

Loading trial locations.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • receiving or on waitlist for speech services
  • primary complaint of impaired language skills
  • receptive, expressive, or mixed language disorder
  • primarily communicates in English

Exclusion criteria

  • No known additional diagnoses causal of developmental language disorder including
  • autism spectrum disorder
  • hearing loss
  • severe intellectual disability
  • Is not attending or has completed Kindergarten

Treatment and study plan

Sit Together and Read (STAR)

Other

Sit Together and Read (STAR) features an explicit, systematic sequence of 15 objectives that target four dimensions of print knowledge: print organization, print meaning, letters, and words. These objectives are explicitly targeted in the context of repeated adult-child shared reading sessions and are systematically cycled over an intervention period so the child has repeated opportunities for acquiring the targeted print objectives. STAR is a manualized 15-week intervention.

Other names: STAR Read-Aloud Practices, Read-Aloud Practices

Monetary Reward

Behavioral

Caregiver receives a monetary reward of $0.50 for each session logged (up to 60 sessions) and audio-recording completed (up to 15 audio recordings).

Text Encouragement

Behavioral

Caregiver receives three tailored encouraging text messages specific to each week of the Sit Together and Read intervention.

Other names: SMS Messaging

Primary outcomes

  1. Preschool Word and Print Awareness (PWPA)

    Time frame: Pretest before intervention and post-test immediately following intervention

    Standardized criterion-referenced measure of children's knowledge of 15 basic print concepts

  2. Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS): Alphabet Knowledge and Name Writing

    Time frame: Pretest before intervention and post-test immediately following intervention

    PALS-Preschool is a scientifically-based phonological awareness and literacy screening and progress measure that assesses preschoolers' developing knowledge of important literacy fundamentals. The assessment reflects skills that are predictive of future reading success. We administer two subtests that measures name writing ability and upper-case and lower-case alphabet recognition.

  3. The Reading House (THR)

    Time frame: Pretest before intervention and post-test immediately following intervention

    A direct screening tool developed for use with pediatricians that allows a variety of providers to identify children who may be at risk for reading difficulties. It is a direct, book-based screener grounded in the concept of emergent literacy. TRH assessment examines 1) print knowledge, 2) alphabet knowledge, 3) letter-sound knowledge, 4) phonological awareness, 5) vocabulary, and 6) emergent writing.

  4. Woodcock Johnson Test of Achievement- IV (WJ-IV): Word Attack and Letter-Word Identification

    Time frame: Completed at all assessing timepoints. Pretest, immediate post-test, 6 month follow-up, 12 month follow-up, 18 month follow-up, 24 month follow up.

    We administer two subtests of the norm referenced, standardized WJ-IV, Word Attack and Letter-Word Identification. Measure of child literacy and reading skill. We will explore avenues for data reduction, including use of a latent-variable modeling strategy.

  5. Woodcock Johnson Test of Achievement- IV (WJ-IV): Spelling, Passage Comprehension

    Time frame: 6 month follow-up, 12 month follow-up, 18 month follow-up, 24 month follow up.

    We administer two subtests of the norm referenced, standardized WJ-IV, Spelling and Passage Comprehension. Measure of child literacy and reading skill

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Jennifer M Bostic, MA

CONTACT

[email protected]

614-292-5715

Laura M Justice, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

614-292-1045

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ohio State University

Other

Collaborators

  • Nationwide Children's Hospital

Registry information

Official study title

Promoting Caregiver Implementation of an Effective Early Learning Intervention: Sit Together and Read (STAR)

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
Feb 23, 2024
Registry last updated
Sep 30, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.