Research & Scholarship

The Center for Adolescent Literacies at UNC Charlotte conducts research and program evaluation studies. Center faculty also conduct independent research projects and contribute to the scholarship relating to teaching, learning, teacher education, service learning, and literacy. We share examples of this work below.

Current Projects of the Center

• An effort to evaluate the reading program component of Charlotte-area Children’s Defense Fund© Freedom Schools. An initial pilot study conducted during the summer 2009 showed positive benefits to youth in this summer program. During the summers of 2010 through 2013 and from 2015 to 2017, the Center worked with Freedom School Partners, Inc. of Charlotte to conduct a larger evaluation of the Freedom Schools in Charlotte, N.C. Click below to download copies of these reports:

  • 2021 Freedom School Partners Freedom Schools® Program Reading Evaluation Report & 2021 Center for Educational Measurement and Evaluation Technical Report (survey findings of Scholars and Servant Leader Interns)

  • 2019 Freedom School Partners Freedom Schools® Program Reading Evaluation Report & 2019 Center for Educational Measurement and Evaluation Technical Report (survey findings of Scholars and Servant Leader Interns)

  • 2018 Freedom School Partners Freedom Schools® Program Reading Evaluation Report & 2018 Center for Educational Measurement and Evaluation Technical Report (survey findings of Scholars and Servant Leader Interns)

  • 2017 Freedom School Partners Freedom Schools® Program Reading Evaluation Report

  • 2016 Freedom School Partners Freedom Schools® Program Reading Outcomes Evaluation Report or follow this link for the Executive Summary

  • 2015 Freedom School Partners Freedom Schools© Program Reading Outcomes Evaluation Report

  • 2013 Freedom School Partners Freedom Schools© Program Evaluation Report

  • 2012 Freedom School Partners Freedom Schools© Program Evaluation Report

  • 2011 Freedom School Partners Freedom Schools® Program Evaluation Report

  • 2010 Freedom School Partners Freedom Schools® Program Evaluation Report or follow this link for the Executive Summary

  • 2009 Seigle Avenue Partners Freedom Schools® Program Evaluation Report.

• During the Summer 2010, the Center conducted an evaluation of the Children’s Defense Fund© Freedom Schools in Bennettesville, S.C. Below is a copy of the report. Click here for a copy of the report.

• The Metamorphosis Project is an initiative of the Center for Adolescent Literacies at UNC Charlotte to work in collaborative partnership with students, teachers and researchers to identify effective literacy and learning practices in K-12 classrooms. The Metamorphosis Project seeks to document these practices including their impact on learning and share them with other stakeholders in education (students, teachers, administrators, policymakers and educational researchers) to promote effective, engaging and inclusive educational environments.

• Advancing Literacy: Teaching & Learning in the 21st Century Professional Development Series. The Advancing Literacy series provides professional development opportunities to help teachers meet the needs of diverse students with 21st Century tools.

• The Multiliteracies Wiki has a wealth of resources and ideas for integrating digital technologies into teaching. Developed by teachers, the focus of this resource is on the meaningful application of technology in teaching and learning. This wiki includes links to many Information Communication Technologies and Web 2.0 tools as well as lesson plan ideas and examples of student created projects that integrate technology.