BOS:311

I am the parent of Boston Public School students requesting that Lexia Core5 (Lexia) licenses be restored to all kindergarten through first graders. Lexia is a crucial component of literacy learning in inclusion classrooms. In classrooms with varying needs and literacy skills, it helps teachers assess individual student needs and meet them where they are in real time. Advanced learners are able to work ahead and challenge themselves while learners that need additional help are able to receive it. At such a young age where children do not always have the self-awareness to identify their weaknesses or self-advocacy skills to seek help, this tool provides teachers and parents with valuable information. At a time when test scores across the city are down, it’s mind-boggling that a tool that’s proven to advance literacy skills was taken away from early learners. I fear that eliminating kindergarten and 1st grade access to Lexia will cause more students to fall behind. Setting a strong literacy foundation early on will only help students advance in the future. I would like for Lexia Core 5 access to be restored for ALL kindergarten through first graders, not just for my children. Providing Lexia for all helps eliminate opportunity gaps and ensures all students have access to individualized high-quality literacy learning, regardless of their individual school’s revenue. Reading proficiency should be a fundamental goal of any school district, and thus funded by the school district, not treated as an elective. I’m including a link to Lexia’s efficacy research: https://www.lexialearning.com/user_area/content_media/processed/Core5EfficacyResearch1.pdf

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