What are evidence-based practices (EBPs)?

• A. Instructional strategies, interventions, or approaches that have been validated through rigorous research and empirical evidence.
• B. Unvalidated methods based on tradition.
• C. Activities that require no teacher input.
• D. General teaching ideas with minimal evidence.

Answer: (A)

Evidence-based practices are instructional methods that have been validated through rigorous research and empirical evidence. In education, this means a strategy or intervention has been tested in well-designed studies and shown reliable, positive outcomes for students across settings, often with replication. For early literacy, EBPs include explicit and systematic phonics instruction, phonemic awareness activities, guided reading with appropriate supports, fluent reading practice with feedback, explicit vocabulary instruction, and explicit comprehension strategies, all guided by ongoing progress monitoring to adjust instruction. Implementing EBPs with fidelity—following the intended steps, materials, and pacing—and using data to inform instruction helps ensure students make meaningful gains. The other descriptions describe methods without solid evidence, rely on tradition without validation, or minimize teacher input and data use, which doesn’t align with how EBPs drive effective instruction.