WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis.,
Oct. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --
Renaissance Learning (NASDAQ: RLRN), a leading provider of
technology-based school improvement and student assessment
programs, announced STAR Reading Spanish, a new computerized
reading assessment for students whose native language is Spanish.
The test can be used with students in grades 1–12 to assess their
Spanish reading levels from beginning first grade to an
end-of-fifth grade reading level.
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The new 10-minute, computer-adaptive assessment uses
vocabulary-in-context items to monitor Spanish reading progress for
students in any program that has Spanish instruction. This data
will help teachers match Spanish books to Spanish-speaking
students, thereby optimizing reading practice time.
For English-only programs, educators will be able to quickly
determine the Spanish-reading level of incoming English language
learners, providing valuable information on what reading
comprehension skills students may already have in place, so
educators can differentiate instruction accordingly.
"Research has documented for years that students who know how to
read well in their native language usually achieve the same results
in a second language," said Glenn R.
James, Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance Learning. "Our
school and district customers have been searching for a fast,
accurate, and reliable way to determine the reading levels of their
Hispanic students. We are confident that STAR Reading Spanish will
meet their needs."
STAR Reading Spanish joins Renaissance Learning's suite of the
most widely used standardized computer-adaptive assessments in
education, including the new Enterprise editions of STAR Reading,
STAR Math, and STAR Early Literacy. STAR Reading Spanish will also
align with the company's reading-practice software, Accelerated
Reader (AR). Educators using AR in conjunction with STAR Reading
Spanish will soon be able to make more efficient and effective use
of AR's Spanish-Language Quizzes for Spanish-language books.
"That's a win-win for both teachers and their students," James
added.
STAR Reading Spanish is expected to be available to schools and
districts for the 2012-2013 school year.
About Renaissance Learning, Inc.
Renaissance Learning, Inc. is a leading provider of
technology-based school improvement and student assessment programs
for K12 schools. Adopted by approximately 70,000 schools,
Renaissance Learning's tools provide daily formative assessment and
periodic progress-monitoring technology to enhance core curriculum,
support differentiated instruction, and personalize practice in
reading, writing and math. Renaissance Learning products and school
improvement programs help educators make the practice component of
their existing curriculum more effective by providing tools to
personalize practice and easily manage the daily activities for
students of all levels. As a result, teachers using Renaissance
Learning products and programs accelerate learning, get more
satisfaction from teaching, and help students achieve higher test
scores on state and national tests. Renaissance Learning has seven
U.S. locations and subsidiaries in Canada and the United Kingdom.
www.renlearn.com
SOURCE Renaissance Learning, Inc.