Virginia Department of Ed Adds Lexia Literacy Tools to Tutoring Initiative

  • By Kate Lucariello
  • 02/07/24

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has added two Lexia Learning literacy tools to its ALL in Tutoring reading initiative — Lexia Core5 Reading for grades 3-5 and Lexia PowerUp for grades 6-8 — as part of its array of tutoring resources.

The tools are available to students participating in the tutoring initiative and who are not currently proficient in Virginia's Standards of Learning (SOL) for their grades due to pandemic losses.

The resources are based on Science of Reading standards that include personalized learning methods, using a "structured, explicit, and systematic approach," Lexia said in a news announcement. The state's [SOL] are embedded into the programs, and educators will be able to identify them both in online and offline materials, the company said.

Core5 features a three-step adaptive blended learning model, and includes an Assessment Without Testing feature that can predict a student's year-end performance. This gives teachers "ongoing norm-referenced and actionable data for prioritizing and planning instruction with supporting offline instructional materials," the company said.

Visit Lexia's Core5 web page to learn more about how it works.

Lexia noted that most of the secondary curriculum is based on reading, but only a third of eighth-grade students achieve their reading level. PowerUp helps fill in individual gaps by combining age-appropriate, student-driven, and teacher-provided lessons and activities. It also supports students learning more advanced analysis skills, the company said.

Learn more about PowerUp on this page.

Lexia said although Ignite Reading 1:1 foundational reading skills tutoring will still be available to Virginia students who require Tier 3 support, Lexia will help schools, districts, and the state to implement their own Core5 Reading and PowerUP Literacy programs.

"We already work with several school divisions within Virginia, and they will also be eligible for the additional success services — tutorials, resources, tools, and professional learning sessions — that we'll provide as part of their ALL In Tutoring reading initiative plans," said Lexia president Nick Gaehde. "Our record of success spurred the VDOE to partner with us, and we are excited to make a difference for even more students in the state."

About the Author

Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, EAST Lab high school teacher and college English teacher.

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