An Evaluation of the National Wildlife Federation Schoolyard Habitat Program in Texas

This study compared 3 pairs of Houston schools, matched by demographics. The treatment group included at total of 306 4th grade students whose teachers were implementing NWF's Schoolyard Habitat Program. The control group consisted of a total of 108 4th grade students whose teachers used a more traditional curriculum. Measures included standardized test scores (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills), as well as attendance and demographic data. Changes were measured between students' 3rd grade data and their 4th grade data from the subsequent year. Results showed that SYH students increased math scores significantly more than peers with a traditional curriculum. Reading scores were slightly negatively correlated with SYH participation, though the author argued that the curriculum was more directly connected to math than reading.