Scientific Learning Corp. Sponsors “Ready 4 Reading” Event To Help Improve South Carolina’s Literacy
March 22-23 event brings together stakeholders to discuss value of early reading interventions
3/17/10
Media Contact:
Jessica Lindl
Senior Vice President, Marketing and Product Management
Scientific Learning Corporation
(510) 625-6784
jlindl@scilearn.com
Investor Contact:
Bob Feller
Chief Financial Officer
Scientific Learning Corporation
(510) 625-2281
investorrelations@scilearn.com
Oakland, Calif. - March 16, 2010 -In South Carolina, roughly 45 students drop out of school every day, and wind up eight times more likely to go to jail as a result. The good news is that research shows an almost one-to-one correlation between eighth grade reading proficiency and high school graduation rates. "If we can teach children in South Carolina how to read long before they hit age eight," said Sara Mansbach, director of Ready 4 Reading, a nonprofit group that promotes the value of early literacy, "then the odds that those students will drop out are significantly reduced."
To help community stakeholders learn more about improving literacy rates in South Carolina, Ready 4 Reading is hosting a two-day event March 22-23 in Greenville, SC titled "Reading By 8." The event is being sponsored by Scientific Learning (NASDAQ:SCIL), makers of the Fast ForWord® and Reading AssistantTM family of products that strengthen brain processing efficiency for learning and reading success. Other event partners include the Alliance for Quality Education, Greenville County Library System, University Center of Greenville, and the United Way, among others.
With public and invitation-only sessions, a highlight of the event will be a presentation by David Boulton, a learning-activist, technologist, author and public speaker. Boulton will present his platform for ‘turning up the learning' by focusing on topics like, SHAME: Is it undermining your children's learning?; The Only Sustainable Business Advantage: Learning; and Economic Development Starts with Literacy.
The Reading By 8 Project Series event couldn't come at a better time as school districts nationwide feel the pressure to turn out graduates with strong critical thinking skills and the ability to help US companies maintain a competitive edge in the world economy. At the core of all learning, however, is reading.
"At Scientific Learning we know that certain core, cognitive skills must be in place before quality learning can take place. In other words, the brain must be ready to learn, and fortunately, research and technology provide us with the tools to help make this happen with students of all ages," said Sherrelle Walker, chief education officer of Scientific Learning Corp. "Nearly 3 million learners - including students in Greenville County Schools, have used the Fast ForWord family of products to help build foundational reading and language skills. This is our mission, and we are pleased to help the Ready 4 Reading group support the cause in South Carolina."
According to Randolyn Harmon, Title I director at Greenville County Schools, students are seeing success in literacy improvement through the use of Fast ForWord. "We have been using Fast ForWord in Greenville County Schools for 3 years now. Initially we piloted the program in one school and based on the results we have now expanded the program to 12 additional schools."
For more information about the Reading By 8 Project Series, including a complete schedule of events, call 864-250-8868 or go to: http://ready4reading.org/reading-by-8/.
About Scientific Learning Corp.
Scientific Learning creates educational software that accelerates learning by improving the processing efficiency of the brain. Based on more than 30 years of neuroscience and cognitive research, the Fast ForWord® family of products provides struggling readers with computer-delivered exercises that build the cognitive skills required to read and learn effectively. Scientific Learning Reading AssistantTM combines advanced speech recognition technology with scientifically-based courseware to help students strengthen fluency, vocabulary and comprehension to become proficient, life-long readers. The efficacy of the products has been established by more than 200 research studies and publications. For more information, visit http://www.scientificlearning.com/ or call toll-free 888-358-0212.
About Ready 4 Reading
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Ready 4 Reading guides underserved parents and caregivers of primarily newborns through 48 month olds to create a love of books, develop readiness for reading, and provide children's books in homes.
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