Van Staden, SuretteHowie, Sarah J.2012-03-012013-07-312012-01Van Staden, S & Howie, S 2012, 'Reading between the lines : contributing factors that affect grade 5 student reading performance as measured across South Africa's 11 languages', Educational Research & Evaluation, vol. 18, no.1, pp. 85-98.1380-3611 (print)1744-4187 (online)10.1080/13803611.2011.641270http://hdl.handle.net/2263/18315This paper reports on the South African results of a study to identify and explain relationships between some major factors associated with successful reading at Grade 5. With 11 official languages, educational policy in South Africa advocates an additive bilingualism model and students in Grade 1 to 3 are taught in their mother tongue. Thereafter, the language of learning and teaching changes to a second language, which in most cases is English. With this complexity of issues, Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) was used to determine the effect of a number of explanatory variables at student- and school level on reading achievement as outcome variable, while controlling for language using the South African PIRLS 2006 data. Utilizing Creemers’ Comprehensive Model of Educational Effectiveness (Creemers and Reezigt, 1999) as theoretical point of departure, this paper will focus on the results of an overall South African model with student- and school level variables.en© Taylor & Francis. This is an electronic version of an article published in Educational Research & Evaluation, vol.18, no.1, pp. 85-98, 2012. Educational Research & Evaluation is available online at: http://www.itandonline.com/loi/nere20. This article is embargoed by the publisher until July 2013.Educational policiesReading literacyPIRLS 2006Language and education -- South AfricaMultilingualism -- South AfricaLanguage policy -- South AfricaLiteracy -- South AfricaReading -- Ability testing -- South AfricaReading (Elementary) -- South AfricaPostprint Article