Oregon center seeks proposals for reading screeners in two more Alaska Native languages

The University of Oregon's Center on Teaching & Learning is seeking proposals to build reading screeners in two more Alaska Native languages. Submissions are due Oct. 30 at 5 pm Pacific time.

The screeners test students in kindergarten through fifth grade who are learning to read in an Alaska Native language. The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development said the tools identify strengths and needs in foundational reading skills and help teachers make instructional decisions.

Screeners are already in development for Inupiaq, Yugtun, Tlingit, Dena'ina and Gwich'in. The university's project description outlines a five-year schedule for each language: two years of development, one year of validation, then one to two years to roll out the results and the online screening tool.

The department contracted with the Oregon center for a five-year project, called Literacy Screeners for Alaska Indigenous Languages, covering up to 10 Alaska Native languages. The university lists the award at about $5.6 million and says the work responds to the Alaska Reads Act.

The project began with Iñupiaq, Tlingit and Yup'ik because those languages had immersion programs in public schools, according to the project team. The State Board of Education told the Alaska State Legislature in its January 2026 report that screeners for two additional languages would begin this year.

At an Alaska State House Education Committee hearing in May, an educator from Juneau's Tlingit language program said, "I'm currently working a part-time job with the University of Oregon to develop the literacy screeners for benchmarks in Tlingit," according to the meeting record. The educator said the project is headed by Gina Biancarosa of the University of Oregon.

The full solicitation and submission rules are posted on the University of Oregon's Business Opportunities page.