National Geographic School Publishing Adds Lexile Measures to Hampton-Brown Edge Assessments


Program Uses Widely Adopted Reading Measure to Help High School Struggling Readers and English Language Learners Build Literacy Skills

CARMEL, Calif. & DURHAM, N.C. - Nov. 11, 2008 - Publishing (NGSP) today announced that the Hampton-Brown EdgeTM instructional program has been linked with the widely adopted Lexile Framework® for Reading. The addition of Lexile® measures within the Hampton-Brown Edge program provides educators with a comprehensive approach for determining the reading abilities of high school-level striving readers and English language learners (ELL), connecting them with targeted instructional activities that can improve literacy skills, and monitoring growth in reading ability throughout the school year.

"Hampton-Brown Edge is designed to build reading, writing and language power for students who are striving to achieve grade-level standards," said NGSP CEO Alison Wagner. "By incorporating the Lexile Framework within the Edge program, we are enabling teachers to connect high school-level striving readers and ELL students with appropriate materials and activities that will motivate them to learn. Now, Edge combines specialized, focused instruction with Lexile measures to move students to graduation and a rewarding future beyond school."

Recognized as the most widely adopted reading measure, Lexile measures are used at the school level in various capacities in all 50 states. Each year, more than 28 million Lexile measures are reported from state and national assessments, classroom assessments and reading programs, representing about half of U.S. students.

Lexile-developer MetaMetrics and NGSP developed two assessments for the Hampton-Brown Edge program: the Placement Test to assess student reading ability upon entering the instructional program; and the Reading Level Gains Test to benchmark growth in reading comprehension over time. Based on the Placement Test results, students are assigned targeted Edge instructional materials and activities at their Lexile level. As students make progress through the levels of the Edge program, they periodically take the Reading Level Gains Test to update their Lexile measure and enable teachers to adjust instruction based on each student's reading ability. The Edge program is intended for high school students who are reading two or more years below grade level, as well as ELL students enrolled in English as a Second Language classes. For more information on the Edge program, visit www.NGSP.com.

"We are pleased to add Hampton-Brown Edge to the growing list of reading programs that have adopted the Lexile Framework as a means to successfully connect students with reading materials that will help them achieve at the highest levels," said MetaMetrics President Malbert Smith III, Ph.D. "Now, more than ever, we need to ensure that students who are struggling to meet grade-level expectations are not only prepared to pass year-end tests, but also to succeed in their various pursuits after graduation."

The Lexile Framework is an educational tool that connects readers with reading materials using a common measure called a Lexile. What makes the Lexile Framework unique, and what has led to its widespread adoption, is that it measures both reading ability and text difficulty on the same developmental scale. When used together, Lexile reader measures and Lexile text measures allow educators, parents and students to find books and other materials that meet and challenge a reader's unique ability and interests. Currently, more than 115,000 books, 80 million articles and 60,000 Web sites have Lexile measures, and the number of resources with Lexile measures continues to grow. For more information on the Lexile Framework, visit www.Lexile.com.
About National Geographic School Publishing

National Geographic School Publishing (NGSP) provides high quality PreK-12 instructional materials, including resources for emergent and early literacy, Reading/Language Arts, ESL/ELD, and Content Literacy development. The company's National Geographic and Hampton-Brown brands include award-winning educational programs that deliver the same high-interest content and the incredible quality that is known and expected from National Geographic. NGSP materials have been in wide use in U.S. schools by students from PreK-12. In the area of ESL, Hampton-Brown set the standard with its state-of-the-art programs High Point and Avenues. New programs for striving readers and English learners at the secondary level are designed to build the language and literacy skills that students need to pass exit exams and graduate from high school. NGSP products are ideal for ELL, striving readers and diverse classrooms. For more information, visit www.NGSP.com.

About MetaMetrics, Inc.

MetaMetrics, Inc., a privately held educational measurement company, develops scientifically based measures of student achievement that link assessment with instruction, foster better educational practices, and improve learning by matching students with materials that meet and challenge their abilities. The company's team of psychometricians developed the widely adopted Lexile Framework for Reading (www.Lexile.com); El Sistema Lexile para Leer, the Spanish-language version of the Lexile Framework; The Quantile Framework® for Mathematics (www.Quantiles.com); and The Lexile Framework for Writing. In addition to licensing Lexile and Quantile® measures to state departments of education, testing and instructional companies, and publishers, MetaMetrics delivers professional development, resource measurement and customized consulting services. For more information, visit www.MetaMetricsInc.com.

For more information, press only:
Audrey Mann Cronin 914-861-2009 | 914-260-9651 | audrey@manncroninpr.com
Ruth Weiner 914-747-7365 | ruthweiner@optonline.net