2006 has been a year of change for NRRF, for reading improvement in America, and for the application of evidence based policy in our federal government.

The most recent National Assessment of Education Progress states that "Reading First" (part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act) "has inspired more progress in the last three years than in the prior thirty." The achievement gap between white and minority students is steadily closing. Textbook publishers are seeking to bring their products into line with the findings of scientifically based research, thus having the potential of positively affecting nearly every school with more than 56 million students in attendance.

Shep Barbash, Journalist and Reading First parent volunteer, states: "Bigger than all the data shift is the shift in attitude: the excitement, resolve, and spirit of inquiry coursing through schools that were rudderless only a few years before. Great teachers blame nothing but their own teaching when a child fails to learn to read. Reading First has inspired more of these teachers than all of its misinformed detractors combined. Rarely have there been such sobriety, candor and humility in education."

The movement to evidence based practices is spreading beyond the borders of education, too. The Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy in Washington, DC recently proclaimed that: "reform is taking hold as an important new development in American government. Requirements for rigorous evaluation and the use of evidence-based practices now appear in Congressional legislation, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance, and federal agency grant solicitations in many diverse areas of policy. These developments offer the potential to bring rapid, evidence-driven progress to areas such as education, employment and training programs, crime and justice, early childhood programs, substance abuse prevention, health care delivery, intelligence policy, international development assistance, and environmental policy."

The National Right to Read Foundation has been an integral part of this change, thanks to you, our volunteers and supporters.

On a more personal note, our Executive Director Sandra Elam has had to place her family first because of serious ongoing health issues, and as a result, will complete two and one half years of excellent service at the end of December 2006. Sandra has revised the NRRF Web site, counseled hundreds of parents and teachers who were looking for effective reading instruction information, and done all the administrative work necessary to keep NRRF active. We are most grateful for her leadership and will miss her.

Joy and Bob Sweet will once again assume the responsibilities of the day to day operation of NRRF and look forward to working with you during 2007.

In early 2006 we were asked to assist the U.S. Department of Education International Division to provide suggestions for a White House Conference on Literacy being held at the U.N. by First Lady Laura Bush. We provided ongoing consultation to the conference coordinators, and two organizations that have global education responsibilities attended the conference in September 2006. In 2007 these two organizations will assist with the planning and implementation of several international conferences on improving reading instruction in some of the 35 poorest nations where illiteracy is the highest in the world.

During 2007 it is likely that NRRF will be involved in the reauthorization process of No Child Left Behind, and in particular the Reading First law. Already we have met with both the majority and minority staff members in the U.S. House of Representatives to discuss this important effort.

We appreciate all the assistance that has been provided during the nearly 14 years NRRF has been working to improve reading instruction in America. We believe that even with the many setbacks that have taken place during this time, significant progress has been made, and that we stand on the threshold of a sea change in reading improvement in the near future. There is nothing as difficult as changing the way a nation teaches its children to read when it has been entrenched with a false pedagogical belief system of reading instruction for more than a century. We are grateful for those who have stood firm through the years, and for each of you, our friends and supporters. Together we will prevail.

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