Research & Validation
The Writile Benchmark Infrastructure is being validated through an active national norming study.
This work establishes the statistical foundation required for a durable, longitudinal benchmark for writing.
Active Norming Study
The national norming study is currently underway and led by Dr. Traci Eshelman Ramey, with formal oversight and approval from the Liberty University IRB.
The study is built entirely from authentic student writing produced through normal instruction and accumulated longitudinally over time.
It is designed to validate the benchmark without altering classroom practice or instructional context.
What the Study Is Establishing
The norming study is designed to establish:
Longitudinal writing growth trajectories grounded in authentic student work
Stability of authorship signals within individual writing histories
Reliability across grades, instructional contexts, and institutions
This validation work is foundational to the benchmark’s long-term credibility and use.
Study Expansion
The study is scheduled to expand during the 2026–27 school year. Planned expansion includes:
Additional districts and regions
Broader grade-level and cohort representation
Increased longitudinal depth
Expansion strengthens benchmark stability and supports broader system-level use.
Participation
Organizations participate in validation by contributing writing data through structured participation agreements.
Participation supports:
Benchmark development and stability
Study expansion and representativeness
System-level legitimacy over time
Continue Exploring
See how longitudinal writing data supports readiness, progression, and research
See the organizations contributing to the benchmark