95 Percent Group Grows Continuum of Science of Reading Professional Learning Courses with Launch of 95 Foundational Tools for Paraprofessionals, Tutors, Volunteers and Other School Staff
New online professional learning expands the award-winning Top 10 Tools by 95 Percent Group offerings to provide a comprehensive, affordable foundation in teaching literacy skills across the school community
Lincolnshire, IL – October 30, 2024 – National momentum around the science of reading continues to increase and with it the demand for professional learning for the entire school community. To help meet this need, 95 Percent Group launched 95 Foundational Tools™. Growing the award-winning, Top 10 Tools™ by 95 Percent Group continuum of science of reading professional learning offerings, this new online course provides paraprofessionals, tutors, after-school staff, interventionists and other school staff the opportunity to build a firm foundation in the science of reading.
Asynchronous, like other courses in the Top 10 Tools menu of offerings, 95 Foundational Tools includes 3 modules that cover Oral Language, Phonemes and Phonics and Spelling. The course takes just 10 hours to complete online. 95 Foundational Tools is affordably priced at $190 for an individual, six-month subscription. School and district volume pricing is available.
According to RAND’s 2024 report, “What’s Missing from Teachers’ Toolkits to Support Student Reading in Grades 3–8,” 40 percent of teachers hold misconceptions about how students develop word-reading skills, and nearly half in these grades report their primary source of knowledge about reading instruction comes from personal experiences in the classroom. Almost three-quarters of those say that they need access to more resources to identify and support students with reading difficulties. 95 Percent Group expanded its Top 10 Tools suite to include 95 Foundational Tools in order to help schools across the country address this need. This need for professional learning is compounded by a U.S. teacher shortage that has increased from 36,000 vacant positions two years ago to 55,000 today.
“For the science of reading to be successfully implemented in schools, it truly requires the commitment of the entire school community,” said, Laura Stewart, Chief Academic Officer, 95 Percent Group. “Educators and other school community members who complete 95 Foundational Tools will learn about the most current research on the science of reading, how the brain processes text, and practical strategies for instruction across the curriculum. This news is an exciting step in our broader strategy to build our Top 10 Tools offerings to allow schools to provide consistent professional learning in the science of reading at all levels of education.”
Top 10 Tools by 95 Percent Group professional learning courses are a key component of the One95 Literacy Ecosystem™, a holistic, immersive system designed to boost educators’ understanding of the science of reading to dramatically improve classroom instruction. Used by districts around the country, such as Bozeman Public Schools, Top 10 Tools by 95 Percent Group is a compact, asynchronous, and comprehensive suite of professional learning tools that cover both what to teach and how to teach it. The content is accessible to individual educators, but also provides an efficient and affordable option for schools and districts to support the entire school community in putting structured literacy to work across every classroom.
Top Ten Tools by 95 Percent Group can be completed in just 45 hours. Other, alternative programs in the market are stretched over multiple years. The full Top 10 Tools by 95 Percent Group course includes self-paced, flexible and accessible learning modules and can be taken in two different versions: for 3 PD Credits/CEUs or the more rigorous International Dyslexia Association (IDA) accredited version offering 5 PD Credits/CEUs and eligibility to sit for the KPEERI exam. In addition, educators can earn a Top 10 Tools micro-credential to demonstrate they have achieved a high level of competency in structured literacy instruction.
For more information on 95 Percent Group’s professional learning courses, visit https://www.95percentgroup.com/professional-learning-courses/.
About 95 Percent Group
95 Percent Group is an education company whose mission is to build on science to empower teachers—supplying the knowledge, resources, and support they need—to develop strong readers. Using an approach that is based in structured literacy, the company’s One95™ Literacy Ecosystem™ integrates professional learning and evidence-based literacy products into one cohesive system that supports consistent instructional routines across tiers and is proven and trusted to help students close skill gaps and read fluently. 95 Percent Group is also committed to advancing research, best practices, and thought leadership on the science of reading more broadly. For more information, visit www.95percentgroup.com.
