(Redmond, WA, Wednesday, March 2, 2022) – Today, Microsoft announced the new Reading Coach experience in Microsoft Teams and updates to Reading Progress designed to help provide the best support for all learners. While educators around the world focus on accelerating learning for all, the pandemic continues to widen pre-existing achievement gaps, affecting the most vulnerable students the most. In fact, more than 1 in 3 children in kindergarten through grade 3 have little chance of reading on grade level by the end of the school year without major and systemic interventions. But digital tools and products designed with the intention of addressing a diverse set of student needs can help ensure that all learners can explore their full potential.

Reading Coach is a reading practice tool for students that automatically generates individualized exercises based upon each student’s specific needs. This new offering complements Microsoft Education’s current portfolio of tools supporting students in developing critical literacy skills, including Reading Progress, Education Insights, Immersive Reader, and more.

Microsoft is committed to inclusive learning for the future, not just in theory but also in providing real solutions for all students, teachers, and school administrators. Reading Coach is expected to become available in Microsoft Teams for Education in time for summer 2022.

To learn more about Microsoft Education, visit microsoft.com.

Data is from Amplify based on data from more than 400,000 students in kindergarten through 5th grades who participated in the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skill. 

Soundbites – Paige Johnson, Vice President, Microsoft Education Marketing

• OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, EDUCATORS AROUND THE WORLD HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON ACCELERATING LEARNING FOR ALL STUDENTS. HOWEVER, THE PANDEMIC CONTINUES TO WIDEN PRE-EXISTING ACHIEVEMENT GAPS AND BASIC LITERACY IS A CHIEF CONCERN. STUDIES SHOW MORE THAN ONE IN THREE STUDENTS WHO STARTED SCHOOL IN THE PANDEMIC NEED INTENSIVE READING HELP TO CATCH UP.
• DIGITAL TOOLS CAN HELP ALL LEARNERS REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL BY PERSONALIZING ASSIGNMENTS BASED ON EACH STUDENT’S NEEDS. THAT’S WHY MICROSOFT EDUCATION DEVELOPED READING COACH, A READING PRACTICE TOOL THAT GENERATES INDIVIDUALIZED EXERCISES FOR LEARNERS.
• WE ARE COMMITTED TO INCLUSIVE LEARNING AND PROVIDING PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR ALL STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS. WITH TOOLS LIKE READING COACH, STUDENTS WILL ENHANCE THEIR READING FLUENCY AND BUILD FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS NECESSARY FOR REACHING THEIR GOALS IN THE CLASSROOM AND BEYOND.