Seaford School District Selects Fast ForWord From Scientific Learning To Help Students Build Essential Cognitive Skills
Delaware district uses federal stimulus funds to implement program based on neuroscience research and proven to accelerate reading and learning success
5/11/10
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. — May 11, 2010 —The Seaford School District in southwest Delaware has selected Fast ForWord® from Scientific Learning Corp. (NASDAQ:SCIL) to help students district-wide increase learning achievement and achieve adequate yearly progress (AYP). Fast ForWord is a family of educational software products that accelerate learning by improving the processing efficiency of the brain.
When Seaford piloted the Fast ForWord program five years ago, district leaders were impressed with its ability to address the cognitive skills that are critical to literacy acquisition: memory, attention, processing rate, and sequencing. At the time, budget limitations prevented the district from moving forward with a full implementation. However, as soon as funds became available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus program, the district moved quickly to install the Fast ForWord program and train teachers and paraprofessionals in the research upon which the program is based.
“We use a variety of intervention programs to help struggling students. The programs are all generally helpful, but none address the foundational cognitive skill sets that are the key to improved critical language and reading skills,” said Paula Johnson, director of elementary education for the Seaford School District. “Fast ForWord is something every learner can benefit from, including English language learners, special education students, at-risk students, and those who are working below, at, or above grade level. And that’s what we’re all about at Seaford — helping all students succeed.”
Seaford purchased the Fast ForWord software in December 2009 and began implementing it this semester in all four of its elementary schools, two of which are considered “underperforming” and failed to meet AYP goals this past school year. The district provided teachers and paraprofessionals with extensive training before the implementation began, and continues to support excellence through enhanced communications between the lab managers and reading specialists, and ongoing training from Scientific Learning.
In addition to helping students increase learning achievement, the district plans to use the Fast ForWord software in its Response to Intervention (RtI) program to remediate learning difficulties before referring students to special education services. The district likewise plans to use the software in its summer school program beginning next month.
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 Assistant™ 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. For more information, visit www.scientificlearning.com or call toll-free 888-358-0212.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbor created by the federal securities laws. Such statements include, among others, statements relating to the school districts’ future implementation and use of the software. Such statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ materially as a result of many factors, including but not limited to: the resources available to and other factors impacting the school district, the manner in which the district implements the software, and other risks detailed in Scientific Learning’s SEC reports, including but not limited to the Report on Form10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 (Part II, Item 1A, Risk Factors), filed April 28, 2010.
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