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For Immediate Release
Arizona Department of Education Study Demonstrates
VoyagerU Professional Development Program Helps
Teachers Increase Student Achievement
Dallas - November 27, 2007− The students of Arizona teachers who enrolled in the VoyagerU® Reading Academy, a professional development program created by Voyager Expanded Learning®, scored higher on state tests than students of teachers who enrolled in other professional development programs, according to a recent study released by the Arizona Department of Education.
Students of VoyagerU participants not only scored higher than the students of competitor program participants on the reading and writing subtests of the Arizona Instrument to Measure (AIMS) test, but they also scored higher than a matched control group of students on both the reading and writing subtests.
VoyagerU teacher-participants also rated themselves higher than their Scholastic Red counterparts on several additional pre- and post-test measures including:
- Frequency of use for phonics and skill level
- Frequency of use for fluency
- Frequency of use for vocabulary and comprehension
The purpose of the Arizona Department of Education study was to determine which mode of professional development had the greatest impact on student achievement as well as teacher use of instructional strategies.
"The framework of this reading program covered knowledge of reading development, language structure, and strategies for instruction and assessment. I felt that I was presented with an effective professional development program in the area of reading in order to adopt research-based practices," says Karen Moore, primary special education teacher at Brooks Academy in Roosevelt School District #66. She adds, "I was supported with quality professional development that assisted me in developing extensive knowledge and skills based in the subject of reading."
VoyagerU courses, including Reading Academy, Reading for Understanding and Getting Reading Results, consist of various modules which cover the five Big Ideas, continuous improvement, student motivation and small group instruction. Each module includes online and self-directed course content, as well as participation in group meetings that help to further instruction. VoyagerU also provides coaches with access to technical and content support.
About Voyager Expanded Learning
Voyager Expanded Learning provides core, intervention and supplemental reading programs, as well as math intervention and ongoing professional development programs, for school districts throughout the United States. Founded in 1994, Voyager has delivered extended-time reading and basic skills intervention programs, as well as large-scale reading programs, to more than 900 school districts in cities such as Dallas, Phoenix, New York and Los Angeles, resulting in dramatically improved student performance. Voyager Expanded Learning, Inc. is based in Dallas, Texas and is a business unit of Voyager Learning Company (OTC: VLCY). For more information, please visit www.voyagerlearning.com or call 1-888-399-1995.
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Media and Investor Contact
Shannan Overbeck
Voyager Expanded Learning
888-399-1995 ext. 9476
soverbeck@voyagerlearning.com | 
