US-based MetaMetrics, developer of the Lexile Framework for Reading, and UAE's Alef Education collaborate to introduce a Lexile-powered Arabic reading scale for enhanced literacy skills in K-12 Arabic speakers. This unique scale is poised to become the standard for Modern Standard Arabic, paralleling the Lexile Framework's role for English readers and EL students. Alongside El Sistema Lexile Para Leer and the original English-based Lexile Framework, this marks MetaMetrics' third reading scale. Alistair Van Moere, Ph.D., President of MetaMetrics, expresses excitement about the partnership with Alef Education, aiming to advance education, promote equity, and elevate literacy standards in the region.
The collaborative effort aims to offer Arabic speakers an effective tool for enhancing literacy, fostering personalized learning. Leveraging Alef Education's expertise and MetaMetrics Lexile Framework for Reading, the initiative will roll out in the Middle East and North Africa, equipping students with essential skills for academic success and lifelong learning. This new scale is set to benefit around 100 million K-12 Arabic speakers, supporting the efforts of ministries of education in the MENA region to preserve and promote Arabic language and culture.
MetaMetrics' Lexile Framework for Reading facilitates the measurement of both student ability and text complexity on a universal scale. The Lexile-powered Arabic reading scale gauges the proficiency of a student in reading Arabic and the difficulty level of any Arabic text. This scientifically grounded scale is under development by a team of psychometricians, researchers, and educators with substantial experience in creating comparable scales. They possess a deep understanding of the Arabic language's unique features and cultural nuances. A field study, conducted in collaboration with regional governments, is underway across the Arabic-speaking world.
