By adding the first commercially available phonics assessment developed to both screen and diagnose phonics patterns to Renaissance literacy solutions, educators will have all the resources they need to support foundational literacy grounded in the Science of Reading

Bloomington, MN (March 28, 2022) – Renaissance, a global leader in student-centered, pre-K–12 personalized practice and assessment, has acquired KeyPhonics, to deliver early literacy assessment data that can be linked directly to phonics-based reading instruction.

KeyPhonics, the first commercially available web-based phonics assessment, was developed after years of research with the goal to quickly and efficiently screen and diagnose the twelve most critical phonics categories and 102 specific target patterns. It was created by Dr. Michelle Hosp after realizing as a school psychologist that phonics assessments didn’t answer one crucial question: which phonics patterns the student needed help with. Universal screening assessments confirm which students are struggling to read, but they are not designed to identify which phonics patterns students need instruction on, therefore limiting their utility to plan instruction.

“Detailed awareness of a child’s mastery of phonics skills is one of the most important indicators of early literacy, and we know it is a top priority for teachers and reading specialists to have actionable data they can use to inform their instruction,” said Todd Brekhus, chief product officer at Renaissance. “We look forward to adding KeyPhonics to the Renaissance family, and together providing teachers and administrators with the insights they need to prepare students for reading proficiency.”

KeyPhonics is designed for grades 1 through 6 and for older students who need help learning phonics. It provides valuable information about phonics skills essential for instruction through a fast and easy assessment, while providing data at the student, class, grade, and district levels. In addition to diagnosing and monitoring progress, educators can also screen all students to enable teachers and administrators to see how students are performing. This helps teachers to provide more effective instruction, and administrators to determine the resources needed to support students and staff.

“We’re thrilled to join Renaissance and create this critical partnership to support teachers and school leaders as they are guiding their students to become proficient, life-long readers,” said Dr. Hosp, founder and scientific advisor at KeyPhonics. “Teaching reading is our most important job as educators, as it has life-long implications for our students. Joining Renaissance allows us to expand the reach of the KeyPhonics assessment and provide educators with the tools and information they need to support instruction and help all students become proficient readers.”

KeyPhonics is Renaissance’s second recent acquisition to support foundational literacy. In 2021, the company acquired Lalilo, which provides K–2 students with engaging practice and instruction across all components of literacy. Lalilo also aligns with Science of Reading research and supports Renaissance’s commitment to reading development.

KeyPhonics customers will continue to receive the support and service they have come to expect and love from the company. Existing Renaissance customers can look forward to learning more about KeyPhonics in the weeks ahead.

About Renaissance

As a global leader in assessment, reading, and math solutions for pre-K–12 schools and districts, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. The Renaissance portfolio includes Star Assessments, for reliable, accurate insights into K–12 student learning; myIGDIs, for accurate assessment of early learning; myON, to increase students’ access to high-quality reading materials; Accelerated Reader, to support independent reading practice; Freckle, for teacher-led differentiated instruction; Schoolzilla, to give educators actionable insights into trends in student attendance and achievement; Lalilo, to develop critical foundational skills; and Nearpod, for teacher-facilitated instructional delivery. For more information, visit Renaissance.com.

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