FSU Collaborates with Ventris Learning to Enhance Literacy Tools in Elementary Education
Florida State University (FSU) researchers are partnering with Wisconsin-based Ventris Learning to introduce innovative tools aimed at helping educators identify elementary students at risk of reading difficulties. This initiative leverages advanced screening assessments developed by expert researchers Yaacov Petscher and Hugh Catts, part of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative-funded Reach Every Reader Project.
Valerie Landrio McDevitt, FSU’s associate vice president for strategic partnerships and innovation, highlighted the commitment of Petscher and Catts to enhance educational resources, expressing excitement over the collaboration with Ventris Learning to ensure these tools reach the classroom.
The assessments utilize engaging computer games to swiftly pinpoint students who may struggle with reading. Catts emphasized the importance of early intervention during formative school years to mitigate long-term reading issues and associated psychosocial impacts. Petscher noted that providing teachers with immediate, actionable data can significantly influence students’ educational trajectories.
Ventris is focusing on three critical literacy areas: phonological awareness, word reading, and non-word reading. The company plans to integrate additional technology, offering educators real-time insights tailored to individual student performances, enhancing instructional decision-making.
Steve Tardrew, Ventris’s vice president of product development, remarked on the joy of creating empowering tools for teachers, which will facilitate quicker access to crucial information regarding students’ reading development.
The collaborative effort, five years in the making, involved extensive research across numerous schools nationwide, ensuring the assessments are scientifically robust. Robert Meyer, CEO of Ventris Learning, expressed optimism about the tool’s versatility, anticipating its use not only by teachers but also by reading specialists and speech-language pathologists.
As U.S. reading scores decline, with less than a third of students achieving proficiency in recent assessments, this initiative aims to reverse the trend, with classroom implementation projected by early 2026.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
