Global initiatives

The Problem

In-person testing results in limited data

In-person testing:

• Time-consuming

• Strains teacher capacity

• Test anxiety

• Language barriers

• Inconsistent data

• Human error

Limited Data

Early literacy assessment on key literacy outcomes is typically conducted inperson in order to capture a full understanding of a student’s proficiency.

In-person testing is time consuming, it strains teacher capacity and causes text anxiety for students. Language barriers and inconsistent data combined with human error all result in limited, inconsistent, and unreliable data.

OUR SOLUTION is R.E.A.L.

Our solution is R.E.A.L. — an AI-driven tool that automatically assesses the five key predictors of literacy* in real time, designed for use multiple times throughout the school year:

• Vocabulary/Listening

• Phonemic Awareness

• Phonics (Decoding)

• Reading Fluency

• Comprehension

R.E.A.L. can be implemented without an in-person administrator. It is quick (under 12 min), efficient, engaging, and scales easily. Assessments (or instructions) can be conducted in any language.

Real-time Early Assessment of Literacy

*Validated by research by World Bank an USAID. In-person versions used by EGRA and numerous other tests

R.E.A.L. is the cornerstone for improving literacy

R.E.A.L. has the potential to make a significant difference in early literacy by providing the education community with vast, relevant data in timescales that remain out of reach for many teachers and unimaginable today in most developing countries.

“Our aim over the next five years is make REAL as available as possible – that means to any school, anywhere.”

- Adam Smith L&L Partner

R.E.A.L. Objective 1:

R.E.A.L. will provide highly relevant, just-in-time data throughout the year to educational policy makers— helping to inform timely and data-driven decisions on literacy instruction across large student populations.

This will help educational leaders make better locallyinformed decisions about how to address short and longterm literacy solutions and direct more efficient allocation of resources to boost literacy at scale.

Data-informed literacy solutions and policy at scale

R.E.A.L. Objective 2:

The “real” effect of educational change happens in the classroom.

R.E.A.L. assessments—available almost immediately to individual schools and teachers—will help teachers focus on the practical levers that will lead to improved literacy outcomes. Assessments will help educators identify learning progress and address literacy gaps for each class and student using a standardized data format.

Improved literacy instruction for each class and student

A Virtuous Learning Cycle

R.E.A.L. test’s easy-to-administer, low-stakes assessment triggers a virtuous learning cycle:

• real-time outcome data immediately reveals class and student literacy gaps,

• enabling timely adjustments to teaching; • leading to better instruction,

• and ultimately resulting in improved scores with each subsequent test.

The goal: REAL RESULTS

R.E.A.L. DEVELOPMENT

Research and development of R.E.A.L. is coordinated with partners and schools on three continents and even more languages.

ZAMBIA

NEPAL

U.S.

R.E.A.L. SEED FUNDING:

The idea for R.E.A.L. was born out of the 2022 Tools Competition.

The competition challenged us to think big — addressing the global literacy gap with a scalable solution while also providing large datasets for research free or at-cost.

We are grateful to all the funders for this remarkable opportunity to make a difference.

Training for teachers

Our partner, Indigi Learning is helping Indigenous populations build prosperity through education. A project of the Global Action Platform, the Indigi Learning is supported by one of the largest grants ever given by Rotary International. The project recently launched a comprehensive teacher training program in The Philippines.

Scaling globally on digital learning platforms

IMLANGO IN AFRICA

iMlango, a project of sQuid, has already registered over 250,000 students in Kenya, offering an invaluable baseline in digital program rostering in Africa.

TRAINING TEACHERS ON BEST PRACTICES WITH DIGITAL RESOURCES

INDIGI LEARNING

Through our partner, Indigi Learning, we developed a training program that builds on the transformative power of stories as the centerpiece of instruction. The stories create connections across all disciplines and build a strong foundation for literacy.

Our training programs for families focuses on strength of families “reading together” with their children. This program trains parents (or important family members) on best practices using at-home resources that help children read at grade-level.

STORYWORLD

SUPPORTING FAMILY LITERACY