WordFlight is a blended assessment and intervention solution for students in grades 3-12 who have not achieved reading fluency and comprehension because of foundational skills deficits, with a targeted focus on automatic word recognition. WordFlight can also be used as a supplemental program for students in grade 2-3 who are still developing these skills. Built on more than a decade of research, WordFlight uses a proven, research-based learning model (See the Elementary or Secondary “Teacher’s Guide: Introduction and Instructional Framework pgs. 11-13 for more information on the Varied Practice Model) that diagnoses and provides targeted instruction to fill in the gaps in students’ knowledge and use of phonics (encoding and decoding), systematically developing their ability to generalize and apply that knowledge to support automatic word recognition and fluency.
WordFlight includes five components:
1. Foundational Skills (automatic word recognition) Screener: The quick, online WordFlight Screener identifies students who struggle with automatic word recognition and decoding. The screener is derived from our validated and reliable, patented Diagnostic. The screener is always available for free.
2. Diagnostic Assessment (built into the online program with a pre-diagnostic, midpoint and end-point administrations to demonstrate growth): The powerful, patented WordFlight Diagnostic provides visibility into each student’s development of decoding, generalization and automatic word recognition skills, the best predictor of fluency. The Diagnostic determines the appropriate curriculum for students to access within the WordFlight Instructional Program. The Diagnostic was developed in collaboration with researchers from the University of Iowa and funded with a contract from the Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. The Diagnostic is the only available measure of automatic word recognition.
3. Instructional Program: The WordFlight Instructional Program includes two components 1) an online, personalized, and adaptive instructional practice program, and 2) curriculum materials and lesson plans for teacher-facilitated, explicit small group instruction. The Instructional Program can be used in a Multi-Tiered System of Support to support students needing Tier 2 and Tier 3 instruction. In one year, the Instructional Program helps students learn to build decoding and encoding knowledge and develop flexible use of these skills so that they can recognize words automatically. This is accomplished through a structured approach that systematically integrates principles from learning science that promote retention, generalization, and automaticity. The student application is embedded in a motivating, game-like environment that provides immediate feedback and informs students about progress. To support teacher monitoring of students’ progress, the system provides diagnostic and ongoing formative assessment, as well as automated email alerts and updates.
4. Reporting and Management Tools: Reporting and management tools for teachers and administrators to monitor usage, progress, and performance. Data is provided to support instructional decision-making.
5. Professional Learning: Each site license includes up to three professional learning sessions a year to ensure a successful, tailored implementation that sets teachers and students up for success. Professional learning includes learning opportunities on the Science of Learning and Science of Reading to fluency in addition to product training and support on data-driven instructional decision-making. Schools receive ongoing customer support.

WordFlight is sold on an annual basis. The purchase of WordFlight includes student licenses, the WordFlight Screener, the WordFlight Diagnostic, the teacher-facilitated small group instruction lesson plans and resources, the management site for teachers a