Grant to test AI integration with KU literacy program for students with disabilities

A University of Kansas project that improves literacy skills has been awarded a $1.875 million grant to test integrating artificial intelligence into its writing program and tailoring it to assist adolescent students with disabilities.

The five-year grant from the Office of Special Education Programs’ Stepping Up competition will fund Project iSTAR: An Integrated, Strategic Technology-based Adaptive wRiting Program. The project at the KU Life Span Institute will be led by Jocelyn Washburn, director of professional development and assistant research professor, and Suzanne Myers, assistant research professor. 

“This grant will provide adolescents, their teachers, and their families with equitable access to an engaging, evidence-based online writing program,” Washburn said. “It will test an AI integration to our proven tools, providing quick, ongoing feedback, and it will adapt based on students' learning needs, preferences, interests, and contexts.”

The project expands the work of the Strategic Instruction Model (SIM), a longtime program that addresses the needs of students to read, understand complex materials, and express themselves effectively in writing. SIM has been developed through decades of KU education research and provides tools, instruction and professional development to teachers and technology supports. The program currently has 1,328 SIM professional developers nationwide who help teachers and leaders use SIM materials and technical support in more than 40 states.

“Often in broad conversations about literacy, there is a focus on reading instead of writing, and younger students rather than adolescents,” Myers said.  “We’re excited that this project will focus specifically on meeting the needs of adolescent writers.”

More information about SIM resources for educators is available through the project's website.