A ventilation screed with an upper attachment flange having a top portion and a bottom portion and at least one opening in the top portion; a drip edge protruding from the bottom portion and a return leg that protrudes back from the drip edge and extends beyond the bottom portion; a drainage cavity protrusion protruding from the bottom portion above the drip edge, wherein the drainage cavity protrusion has an L-shaped drainage trough portion having at least one drainage opening in a bottom portion and a substantially vertical portion with a top end and a bottom end in communication with the bottom portion, an upper ground portion in communication with the top end of the substantially vertical portion of the L-shaped drainage trough portion extending outward from the substantially vertical portion and a drainage cavity shroud extending substantially downward from the upper ground portion.