October 19, 2009 — CONCORD, Mass. — In order to effectively increase reading proficiency, nearly 900 schools and learning resource centers across the state of California have implemented the Lexia Reading program. The award-winning reading software helps students Pre-K through 12th grade acquire and improve essential reading skills while providing educators with integrated assessment reporting. The real-time snapshot reports provide constant progress monitoring to teachers so they can hone and target instruction, without delay or waiting for the next benchmark exam.
As one of the nation’s most highly regarded reading software programs, Lexia Reading’s distinctive and cost-effective technology offers more than 800 activities for reading skills development. Each of the age-appropriate, skill-specific activities conforms to federal guidelines. Students using the program work independently as the software automatically detects when additional practice is needed. This “branching” technology ensures that students demonstrate mastery of each reading skill before proceeding to the next skill.
Santa Ana School District in Orange County and Sacramento’s Folsom Cordova Unified School District are just two of the many California districts that have implemented the Lexia Learning System into their language arts toolkit this year. Additionally, Los Angeles’ Mountain View School District, El Monte Unified School District and River Delta Unified School District recently renewed their license agreement with Lexia Learning.
Mountain View School District began using Lexia Reading in 2007 and last year moved to a full implementation in all district elementary schools. With a student population comprised of 96 percent Hispanics and 60 percent English Language Learners, administrators have been successfully using the solution to identify skill gaps and effectively provide differentiated instruction and practice in needed skill areas. Students who are performing below or far below grade level are scheduled to use Lexia for 20 minutes each school day. As students spend more time on the program, teachers are able to quickly identify and meet with students who need further support.
“As a Reading First district, we are dedicated to applying proven methods of early reading instruction in the classroom in order to affect significant improvement in our students’ reading skills across all five domains of reading,” said Dr. Peter Knapik, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Staff Development, Mountain View School District. “With the Lexia product we are witnessing a huge difference not only in English language acquisition, but in language arts skills overall.”
Educators in Santa Ana were drawn to Lexia Reading’s foundational approach to reading skills practice. Students are able to receive additional practice through the engaging and fun activities that are core elements of the software solution. Unaware of the learning and remediation occurring, students are engaged in the activities, and do not become frustrated or bored.
“Research has shown that in addition to high quality instruction, students need intensive practice opportunities to develop essential reading skills including phonological awareness, sight word recognition, sound-symbol correspondence and word-attack skills,” said William Skelly, principal of Heninger Elementary in Santa Ana. “Lexia does just that by providing students with individualized reading skills instruction and practice that builds core competencies, and provides teachers with detailed feedback on student progress. Struggling students receive scaffolded support, while students demonstrating proficiency advance to more challenging concepts.”
“Lexia Learning is not just popular among California educators,” said Gaehde. “We are seeing a much faster adoption rate of schools and districts across the country embracing the use of technology that incorporates assessment, instruction, practice, motivation and remediation in real-time. Without it, educators understand that the reading gap will only expand and leave some students without the reading skills necessary to succeed in life.”
About Lexia Learning
Lexia Learning Systems, Inc., headquartered in Concord, Mass., is one of the most highly regarded reading software companies in the nation. Established in 1984, the company provides a flexible, Web-enabled technology that is scientifically based and proven to increase reading proficiency in students at all levels of ability, pre-K to adult. Today, Lexia’s programs, including its flagship product, Lexia Reading, are used as an essential part of reading instruction in more than 12,000 schools nationwide, and have helped more than one million students learn to read. In 2009, the Lexia Reading program was recognized as one of only 10 programs to have ever been deemed to show effectiveness in two or more “beginning reading skills” categories by the What Works Clearinghouse. To learn more about Lexia, please visit www.lexialearning.com or call 1-800-435-3942.
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