Fords School Wins Matching Online Reader Grant

A Woodbridge elementary school is starting the new school year off right. A Fords school was one of two New Jersey schools to receiving a matching grant for an online software reading program.

The Lafayette Estates School #25 in the Fords section of the township won the grant from Capstone Digital's CARE program. The program, called myOn reader program, creates a personalized reading list for children in the kindergarden through eighth grade. Students take a multiple question quiz to peg their reading level, and then the online program comes up with a list of reading materials among the 1,300 offered suited to their interests and reading ability.

The myON system, according to the Library Journal, costs approximately $6,500 per school annually to implement. The Lafayette Estates school received about half that amount to start the program, with the school district funding the balance.

The program offers enhanced readers, including the ability for a male or female speaker to read the words to the students. The titles include graphic novels, easy readers and a Spanish text list over a broad range of categories. There is also an online dictionary and quizzes that the students can complete. A teacher interface to track the students' progress is part of the system.

“We’re thrilled to help offset the federal funding many educators were counting on and offer these remarkable schools access to the resources and tools that will provide unlimited reading and learning opportunities for their students,” said Todd Brekhus, president of Capstone Digital in a statement.

“The Woodbridge Township School District is committed to supplying the tools and resources necessary to provide unlimited reading and learning opportunities for our students,” said Superintendent John A. Crowe in a statement. “It is our district’s belief that myON reader will positively impact the students we serve.”