Natalie Wexler Scholarship
Supporting families with children needing intervention and educators needing training in structured literacy
The Natalie Wexler Scholarship is named in honor of journalist, Natalie Wexler, author of The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America’s Broken Education System – And How to Fix It. This scholarship recognizes Ms. Wexler for her work explaining to the public how the U.S. education system suffers from a lack of knowledge-based curricula and a misplaced focus on “strategies” instead of knowledge. Through her writing and speaking, Ms. Wexler is helping schools identify better ways to teach and helping parents to demand the use of science-backed educational methods.
Each Natalie Wexler Scholarship, worth $1,350, will fund 12 weeks of one-on-one, structured literacy therapy for a struggling reader participating in Lexercise’s accredited professional development practicum with a qualified and supervised adult trainee.
What is the purpose of this scholarship?
This scholarship was created to acknowledge the importance of literacy for knowledge-building, critical thinking, analysis, and expression. It gives students across the nation, no matter where they live, access to structured literacy intervention while providing a supervised, clinical training practicum for qualified educators in training.
What are the scholarship requirements?
- Your child must have a reading/writing problem that can be helped by structured literacy (Orton-Gillingham) therapy. (Our therapists will be able to help you determine whether or not the focus of this scholarship program is the best fit for your child's needs).
- You must have access to a laptop or desktop computer with a camera and a reliable high-speed internet connection.
- You and your child must be willing and available to start therapy when a trainee-therapist is available to begin and continue for 12 straight weeks.
- You and your child must both be able to meet once a week in a 45-minute online video session with the therapist.
- Your child must complete a minimum of 4 days of online practice (15-20 minutes/day) in between therapy sessions.
- You, the parent, must sign a Consent to Film, giving permission for the recording of your sessions, for review by the therapist and their supervisor. (Recordings are used for training purposes only and are not shared outside of the Lexercise organization.)
- You must make a refundable credit/debit card deposit of $180 to secure your child's place in the program. At the end of therapy, we'll reimburse you $15 per week for all weeks where you and your child have completed the session and 4 days of practice without missing a week. It is our sincere hope that you will do your part so that we can give you a full refund at the end of the 12 weeks.
- Preference is given to families who can demonstrate financial need.
How do I apply?
Applications are by invitation only. Preference is given to applicants who can demonstrate financial need and who have not had access to prior Orton-Gillingham or structured literacy intervention. If you and your child meet the above requirements fill out this form to speak with one of our expert therapists about Lexercise therapy and request an invitation.
