Scholastic's READ 180 and System 44 Recognized with ROE Innovation Award at ASU/GSV Education Innovation Summit

Scholastic recently announced that its READ 180 and System 44 software have been recognized with the Return on Education (ROE) Innovation Award at the ASU/GSV Education Innovation Summit. Many school districts struggle with the costs of improving reading among students with low proficiency, in an effort to increase college graduation rates and make students career-ready. Scholastic’s advanced education technology programs were winners in the Next Generation Content category for their effectiveness in substantially reducing the costs of such interventions by schools.

In a statement, Margery Mayer, president of Scholastic Education, said, "We are proud to have READ 180 and System 44 recognized for not only turning around the academic lives of these students, but also proving to be cost effective for the districts at a time when everyone is looking to control costs. We are thankful to ASU and GSV for establishing this award and putting a spotlight on the importance of delivering return on investment in education."

Scholastic cited Napa Valley Unified School District as an example in its case study. Students in the program who had all been referred for special education services were introduced to READ 180 and System 44 when in grades three, four or five. The study found that by the time they reached middle-school grades most children no longer required special education services. This can effectively cut down per pupil costs and provide savings as the need for special education staff is decreased or eliminated. Prior to the program, the Napa Valley Unified School District was spending approximately $1 million to provide special education staff. 

Additionally, the case study proved that institutional savings could also come from substantial reductions in suspensions and expulsions, which saw a drop from 4,900 to about 2,100 from 2010 to 2012. This amounted to a savings of $84,000 for the district. 

READ 180 is currently used by more than 1.5 million students across the country on a daily basis. Scholastic is a major publisher and distributor of children’s books in the world.