Missouri Partners with Pearson for State-Funded Universal Dyslexia Screening of K-3 students

Early dyslexia identification aims to significantly improve students' trajectories in school and life

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Aug 12, 2019, 10:00 ET

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Pearson announced its selection by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to provide digital dyslexia screenings to K-3 students across the state. Missouri is leading the charge in the nation to implement and fully fund a universal dyslexia screen for early elementary level students.

Pearson will deliver the acclaimed Shaywitz DyslexiaScreen, an efficient, evidence-based, and user-friendly dyslexia test designed to identify K‐3 students who may be at risk for dyslexia. With the new agreement, each school district in Missouri can choose one of two universal digital delivery options for screening their K-3 students, giving the district the local control and flexibility that best suits their student population.

"We are proud to support Missouri with its goal to give students who struggle to read the best possible start in life," said Arthur Valentine, managing director, clinical assessment at Pearson. "Early identification means that students receive intervention and instruction earlier, leading to better outcomes. The Shaywitz DyslexiaScreen is a unique valid and reliable screening tool that helps teachers to identify students at risk, supports school staff and decision-making and provides support for families."

"We found the Shaywitz DyslexiaScreen to be both effective and time-efficient in our screening process," said Amanda McCaleb, literacy intervention specialist at Springfield Public Schools in Missouri. "The clarity of the results allowed us to easily identify students in need of additional support."

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SOURCE Pearson