Imagine Learning Expands Literacy Assessment Portfolio with Acquisition of EarlyBird

Research-Backed Tool Enables Educators to Detect and Address Reading Challenges for Students in Grades PreK–3

Imagine Learning, the largest national provider of digital-first curriculum solutions, today announced the acquisition of the EarlyBird, a dyslexia screener and early literacy assessment for students in PreK–Grade 3. The EarlyBird game-based assessment enables the early identification of dyslexia and other reading challenges to give educators the data they need to intervene. This acquisition underscores Imagine Learning’s commitment to supporting the 18 million K–12 students and educators who rely on its products in over half of the school districts nationwide.

“We are excited to add the EarlyBird assessment to the Imagine Learning portfolio,” said Jonathan Grayer, Chairman and CEO of Imagine Learning. “With its ability to identify reading challenges like dyslexia at an early stage, EarlyBird equips educators to take action sooner. Paired with our intervention solutions, which empower teachers to deliver targeted, research-backed instruction, EarlyBird enhances our ability to support students’ literacy journeys from day one, fostering growth, confidence, and long-term success.”

Meeting the Critical Need for Early Literacy Screening

A 2021 report by the Institute of Education Sciences, encompassing over 20 years of research and 75,000 students, confirmed the effectiveness of early literacy interventions, showing that additional instruction significantly increases a student’s likelihood of becoming a successful reader. Early literacy screening is essential to identify students who need timely intervention to prevent long-term academic challenges. Developed and scientifically validated at Boston Children’s Hospital in partnership with faculty at the Florida Center for Reading Research, the EarlyBird assessment makes early literacy screening engaging, effective, and accessible for educators and students.

EarlyBird’s unique, child-friendly, game-based approach is aligned to the science of reading, assessing students on critical foundational skills including phonemic/phonological awareness, phonics, oral language comprehension, sound-symbol correspondence, and naming speed.

The assessment is computer adaptive to each child's skill level as they progress through activities, providing precise insights into their strengths and areas needing support. The application provides a wealth of real-time data for educators, enabling early intervention with highly targeted strategies via an intuitive dashboard organized in alignment with the science of reading and divided into individual subtest skills as they pertain to the Simple View of Reading.

Integration with Imagine Learning

EarlyBird joins Imagine Learning's Imagine+ Assessment portfolio, a comprehensive system delivering screening, diagnostics, standards benchmarking, and formative assessments. This portfolio empowers personalized learning and enables informed instructional decisions in conjunction with Imagine Learning’s English Language Arts solutions. “EarlyBird is a powerful addition to our robust literacy portfolio,” said Sarah Anderson, SVP of Product & Platform at Imagine Learning. “By uniting EarlyBird’s early literacy screening with our literacy intervention programs, including Imagine Language & Literacy, Imagine MyPath, and the recently enhanced Imagine Sonday System, a systematic, multisensory reading program based on the Orton-Gillingham approach, we’re providing educators with end-to-end solutions that enhance both assessment and targeted instruction. This integration enriches our assessment tools, allowing educators to personalize learning journeys and respond to students’ needs in real time with data-driven decisions.”

About Imagine Learning

Every classroom, every student is bursting with potential. That’s why we pursue relentless innovation at the intersection of technology, people, and curricula. Imagine Learning creates K–12 digital-first solutions, working alongside teachers to support 18 million students in over half of the districts nationwide. Our core portfolio includes Imagine IM, Imagine Learning EL Education, Twig® Science, and Traverse. Our robust supplemental and intervention suite equips learners with personalized instruction for English and Spanish literacy, math, coding, and more. Imagine Edgenuity® and Imagine EdgeEX offer innovative courseware solutions, complemented by Imagine School Services’ Certified Teachers. Imagine Learning. Empower potential. Learn more: imaginelearning.com.

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