Mississippi District Named National Reference Site for Use of Blended Learning Tools

The Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District (SOCSD) has been named a National Reference Site by Scientific Learning for its use of the company's Fast ForWord and Reading Assistant blended learning programs.

At SOCSD, 703 students in grades K-10 who scored in the lowest quartile on the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) used at least one Fast ForWord product.

"In addition, SOCSD also uses the Fast ForWord program to help struggling students prepare for the state's 3rd Grade Reading Summative Assessment," according to a news release. "In fall 2014, the district used data from the spring MAP test to identify 55 students who would be entering third grade as beginning readers."

"After the initial 3rd Grade Reading Summative Assessment and one retest, 85 percent of students who completed a Fast ForWord product passed that test," said Jody Woodrum, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, in a prepared statement. "Considering that these were our struggling readers, those results are very, very good."

As one of 20 schools and districts named a National Reference Site, SOCSD "will serve as a resource for other schools and districts seeking advice on how to best use the Fast ForWord and Reading Assistant programs to increase students' reading proficiency," according to information released by Scientific Learning. "The district will also participate in research to help Scientific Learning enhance the effectiveness of its products and services."

About the Author

Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • classroom scene with students gathered around a laptop showing a virtual tour interface

    Discovery Education Announces Spring Lineup of Free Virtual Field Trips

    This Spring, Discovery Education is collaborating with partners such as Warner Bros., DC Comics, National Science Foundation, NBA, and more to present a series of free virtual field trips for K-12 students.

  • glowing padlock shape integrated into a network of interconnected neon-blue lines and digital nodes, set against a soft, blurred geometric background

    3 in 4 Administrators Expect a Security Incident to Impact Their School This Year

    In an annual survey from education identity platform Clever, 74% of administrators admitted that they believe a security incident is likely to impact their school system in the coming year. That's up from 71% who said the same last year.

  • horizontal stack of U.S. dollar bills breaking in half

    ED Abruptly Cancels ESSER Funding Extensions

    The Department of Education has moved to close the door on COVID relief funding for schools, declaring that "extending deadlines for COVID-related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds, years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Department’s priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion."

  • pattern of icons for math and reading, including a pi symbol, calculator, and open book

    HMH Launches Personalized Path Solution

    Adaptive learning company HMH has introduced HMH Personalized Path, a K-8 ELA and math product that combines intervention curriculum, adaptive practice, and assessment for students of all achievement levels.