Are Students Prepared for New School Year?

• Position: READING BARRIERS

"Our Back-to-School Survey represents input from teachers across the U.S. who serve students with reading barriers, including dyslexia, low vision, blindness, or a physical disability that interferes with reading," says Brad Turner, vice president of Global Literacy at Beneficent Technology, Inc., Palo Alto, Calif.

"While numerous factors contribute to teachers feeling they and their students are prepared, the survey data shows that three factors pull significant weight: support from school administration, access to books in various formats, and access to technology resources.

"Other potential factors--such as types of reading barriers, school location, and number of students--did not demonstrate a large impact on feelings of student preparedness."

* 68% of teachers feel prepared for the school year, while 40% think their students are prepared.

* When teachers do not believe they...