Protocol: 'On Track', a group-randomized controlled trial of an early reading intervention

•Protocol for a group-randomized controlled trial of an early reading intervention.•A large, Norwegian population-based sample (n = 1199).•97.7 percent of the students got their parents' consent for participation.•Aims to provide teachers with research-based intervention materials and tools.

This paper presents a research protocol for a group randomized controlled trial of the 'On Track' early reading intervention. The 'On Track' project seeks to reduce the incidence of reading difficulties (RD) by developing screening materials to identify children at risk of RD at an early stage of schooling, by developing research-based teaching programs, and by measuring the long-term effects of early reading interventions. The total sample contains 1200 Norwegian 6-year-olds, and the reading intervention will be evaluated among the lowest-achieving 20 percent of the students. Outcome measures are word reading, spelling, reading comprehension, interest in reading, and reading self-concept. The project is led by the Norwegian Reading Centre, University of Stavanger, and supported by the Research Council of Norway.