Reading First is an ambitious national initiative to help every young child in every state become a successful reader. This effort is based on high expectations for what can and should happen for all students: that instructional decisions will be guided by the best available research.
- The No Child Left Behind Act signed into law by
President George W. Bush on January 8, 2002, established Reading First as a
new, high-quality evidence-based program for the students of America.
- The Reading First initiative builds on the findings of years
of scientific research, which, at the request of Congress, were compiled by the
National Reading Panel.
- All states have the potential to receive Reading First grants.
After the states receive their funding, they will then award sub-grants to
local communities on the basis of a simple competitive process.
- Reading First will provide funds to train teachers in the
essential components of reading (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency,
vocabulary, comprehension) and to select and administer screening, diagnostic
and classroom-based instructional reading assessments to identify those
children who may be at risk of reading failure. Funds are also provided for
professional development for special education teachers, kindergarten through
grade 12.
Reading First
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