Literacy Screeners for Alaska Indigenous Languages (LSAIL)

Yugtun Language, College Gate, Anchorage, Alaska

The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) has contracted with the University of Oregon (UO) Center on Teaching and Learning (CTL) to develop LSAIL an early literacy screening tools for Kindergarten through Grade 5 in up to ten Alaska Native languages (ANL) over five years. These literacy screeners will align with the Alaska Reads Act in up to ten Alaska Native Languages for K-5. 

LSAIL Project Objectives

Develop literacy screeners mandated by the Alaska Reads Act in up to ten Alaska Native languages for K-5

Ensure linguistic and cultural norms are centered in screeners

Document the development and validation process and the psychometric properties of the screeners

Develop an online tool for developing literacy screeners in additional Alaska Native languages

LSAIL Timeline

Years 1 – 3: First group of Languages (Yup’ik, Iñupiaq, and Tlingít)

• Engage with ANL community, develop and pilot screeners, and establish benchmarks.

• Document and disseminate process, technical qualities, practical guidelines.

Years 2-4: Second group of 3 Languages

• Engage with ANL community and develop screeners; pilot and benchmark when possible.

• Document and disseminate process, technical qualities, practical guidelines.

Years 3-5: Third group of  3 Languages

• Engage with ANL community and develop screeners; pilot and benchmark when possible.

• Document and disseminate process, technical qualities, practical guidelines.

Years 1-6: Sustainability

• Development of online tools for furthering ongoing development efforts.