Rigorous research provides information that will allow other schools and districts to select interventions that have a scientifically based track record of effectiveness. All Striving Reader grants include the mandate to evaluate literacy intervention(s) targeted to adolescents who are reading significantly below grade level. Although all studies followed the same guidelines for evaluation, each was implemented in a different context, evaluated different interventions or curricula, and utilized different evaluation designs. This symposium will bring together five evaluations to share information about the challenges in both designing and implementing the designs of such studies after two years of implementation. In addition, the consideration of implementation context in the interpretation of the results and what should be done when planning to implement will also be discussed. As a result evaluators hope to provide important information to those planning similar studies in school districts and other complex social settings.