The Research
Key To Evaluation & Understanding
Our Research Analyst is an integral part of the team and continues to be instrumental in supporting the research and evaluation needs of all Key Center programs, including the Key School Academic Language Therapy (KSALT) Program and Key School. The academic and social growth of students will be tracked using multiple data sources without identifying information.
The Research Analyst also examines the therapy methods of Certified Academic Language Therapists, dyslexia specialists, and educators in hopes of achieving greater understanding of best practices for students with learning differences. Successful pedagogical methodologies will be replicated within Key School and will serve as a resource within the community. Documentation of post-graduation outcomes allows for the historical review of Key School’s general success.
The Need
Students with learning and attention issues are as smart as their peers and, with the right support, can achieve at high levels.
– Community Assessment 2018-2019, United Way of Tarrant County.
Current studies indicate that one half of all the students who qualify for special education are classified as having a learning disability. About 85% of those students have a primary learning disability in reading and language processing.
– International Dyslexia Association
In Texas, students identified with specific learning disability (SLD) and other health impairment (OHI) accounted for 60.4% of student with disabilities who received out-of-school suspensions in 2014-2015.
– National Center for Learning Disabilities
As much as 15–20% of the population as a whole—have some of the symptoms of dyslexia, including slow or inaccurate reading, poor spelling, poor writing, or mixing up similar words.
– International Dyslexia Association
Effective Reading Interventions
Structured literacy prepares students to decode words in an explicit and systematic manner. This approach not only helps students with dyslexia, but there is substantial evidence that it is more effective for all readers.
– International Dyslexia Association
Our Research
Our research and evaluation efforts focus on measuring how our students are progressing in academics, self-confidence, self-advocacy skills, and post-graduation outcomes using student learning profiles and specialized curriculum.
Additionally, teaching modalities in key classrooms are being researched and evaluated for effectiveness to share best teaching practices for students with learning differences within the community.
Impact
Students in Tarrant County, regardless of learning difference and financial ability, will be successful in school, relationships, and the community, given the right opportunities and instructional support.
Our goal is to share the results of our research and evaluation with the community in order to provide all students and educators of Tarrant County the best opportunities to succeed in the classroom, therefore providing better long-term outcomes.
We are focused on helping as many students as possible and welcome opportunities to collaborate with other institutions. If interested, please contact Rashon Braxton, Research Analyst for the Key Center for Learning Differences at rabraxton@ksfw.org.
