University of Oregon 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, adding to five already in development. 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 says the tools identify strengths and needs in foundational reading skills and help teachers make instructional decisions.

The Alaska Reads Act requires reading screening for young students regardless of the language they are taught in, and English screeners can't simply be translated, the project team said in a 2023 university announcement. The state education department hired the Oregon center in 2023 for the Literacy Screeners for Alaska Indigenous Languages project, which covers up to 10 languages. The university lists the award at about $5.6 million. Gina Biancarosa of the University of Oregon leads the work.

The project began with Iñupiaq, Tlingit and Yup'ik, which had immersion programs in public schools, according to the project team. Dena'ina and Gwich'in have since been added. The State Board of Education told the Legislature in its January 2026 report that screeners for two additional languages would begin this year.

Each language follows a five-year schedule: two years of development, one year of validation, then one to two years to roll out the results and an online screening tool.

The full solicitation is posted on the University of Oregon's Business Opportunities page.