12/3/13 Media Contact: Hallie SmithDirector of MarketingScientific Learning Corporation(619) [email protected] Investor Contact:Jane FreemanChief Financial OfficerScientific Learning Corporation(510) [email protected] Oakland, Calif. — Dec. 3, 2013 — Scientific Learning Corp. (OTCQB:SCIL) has named Hoke County Schools in North Carolina a National Reference Site due to strong student gains achieved after the use of the Fast ForWord® and Reading Assistant™ programs. The rural district joins a distinguished group of 35 National Reference Site schools and districts in the United States and Canada that exemplify the outstanding use of the online reading programs. The Title I district began using the programs during the 2011-12 school year to help struggling learners improve their reading skills and close achievement gaps. After using the products, students made significantly greater than expected growth on the Reading and Math components of the North Carolina End-of-Grade (EOG) Tests. In addition, the more Fast ForWord and Reading Assistant products students completed, the more their achievement exceeded expectations. “We’re a very high poverty county. Our students come to us way behind in many respects,” said Robert T. Barnes, Jr., assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for Hoke County Schools. “We have a good literacy program but we needed something to help bridge the gaps for students who were far behind and bring them up to grade level — and that’s exactly what the Fast ForWord and Reading Assistant programs do. They expedite a child’s ability to learn to read and then to progress forward.” In addition to the EOG Tests, Reading Progress Indicator was also used to evaluate the impact of the Fast ForWord program on students. Initially, students’ reading skills were well below grade level. An average of four months later, the group’s skills had improved by one year. “We’re looking forward to having other schools come in and see how we’re using Fast ForWord and Reading Assistant, and how effective they are,” said Barnes. […]
