2/4/19
Media Contact:
Stephen Gardner
Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Scientific Learning Corporation
(520) 282-6226
[email protected]
Oakland, Calif. — Feb. 4, 2019 — The Georgia Department of Education has a shared goal that all children in Georgia will be on the path to reading proficiently by the end of third grade. To improve literacy outcomes with research-proven practices and a personalized approach to learning, many Georgia school districts are turning to the neuroscience-based Fast ForWord® program from Scientific Learning Corp. (OTC PINK:SCIL).
Recent districts to launch or expand their Fast ForWord implementations include Monroe, Pickens, Pierce, and Polk County Schools. Located in central Georgia between Atlanta and Macon, Monroe County Schools (MCS) began using the Fast ForWord program in fall 2015 to close achievement gaps in reading. Based on the positive results achieved, the district has expanded the program to all elementary and middle schools to help struggling readers, students receiving special education services, and English language learners.
“In our first year, we used the Fast ForWord program after school with students who didn’t meet the criteria on standardized tests or weren’t doing well in their classes. From November to April, they achieved substantial growth, with gains of up to two-and-a-half years in reading,” said Jenny Rooks, director of instructional student support for MCS.
“Then we started targeting the Fast ForWord program to other groups such as students receiving speech and language services, Tier 3 students who didn’t qualify for special education, and students in our Early Intervention Program. Their success has been tremendous,” said Jennifer Jorns, instructional student support coordinator for MCS. “One mother actually called in tears because her child, who was in fifth grade, made three years of growth in one school year. We have also prevented several Tier 3 students from being referred for special education evaluations because we’ve been able to intervene and remediate their language and reading skills.”
Developed by neuroscientists, the Fast ForWord program uses a unique approach to deliver fast gains to students, including struggling readers, ELLs, and students with disabilities. It provides students with the foundational language and cognitive skills, intensive practice, and guided reading support that they need to catch up, once and for all.
The Fast ForWord program is backed by more than 30 years of multilevel research and 250 studies. For more information, visit www.scilearn.com.
