Introductory Information

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $231.8 million to 17 states to help improve the reading skills of pre-kindergarten through third-grade children.

States to be funded are Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia.

According to Education Secretary Richard Riley, the Reading Excellence Act "is the most significant law on child literacy passed by Congress in more than 30 years." The grants will enable states to create programs that are grounded in scientific research.

Of particular note to providers of teacher training and instructional materials are the definitions of "reading" and "scientific research" included in the Reading Excellence Act Law. They are as follows:

READING - The term "reading" means a complex system of deriving meaning from print that requires all of the following:

1. The skills and knowledge to understand how phonemes, or speech sounds, are connected to print.
2. The ability to decode unfamiliar words.
3. The ability to read fluently.
4. Sufficient background information and vocabulary to foster reading comprehension.
5. The development of appropriate active strategies to construct meaning from print.
6. The development and maintenance of a motivation to read.

SCIENTIFICALLY BASED READING RESEARCH - The term "scientifically based reading research" -

1. means the application of rigorous, systematic, and objective procedures to obtain valid knowledge relevant to reading development, reading instruction, and reading difficulties; and
2. shall include research that -
   1. employs systematic, empirical methods that draw on observation or experiment;
   2. involves rigorous data analyses that are adequate to test the stated hypotheses and justify the general conclusions drawn;
   3. relies on measurements or observational methods that provide valid data across evaluators and observers and across multiple measurements and observations; and
   4. has been accepted by a peer-reviewed journal or approved by a panel of independent experts through a comparably rigorous, objective, and scientific review.

Programs that include instruction in phonemic awareness, systematic phonics, vocabulary development, and reading comprehension would fit this category. Teacher training providers are encouraged to contact the Reading Excellence Act State Directors. Information on the Reading Excellence Act grants may also be obtained from the U.S. Department of Education WEB site: www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/REA/awardees.html#1999.

ALABAMA
The Alabama Department of Education will receive $7,500,000 to support the Alabama Reading Excellence Program. The program will build local capacity to surround children with effective scientifically based reading and literacy instruction and support, and ensure that every Alabama child is reading well by grade three. The Alabama Reading Excellence Partnership will work with the State Department of Education to develop the capacity of local educational agencies to help children learn, teachers teach, and families and communities to support them.Twenty districts in Alabama are eligible to compete for Reading Excellence Act subgrants.
State Contact: Dr. Katherine Mitchell
Telephone: (334) 353-1389
E-mail Address: kmitchll@sdenet.alsde.edu

FLORIDA
The Florida Department of Education will receive $26,000,000. In addition to grants to eligible school districts, the funds will support: A state-funded coordinator who will collaborate with the Florida Reading and Family Literacy Center (FLARE) to provide the latest reading research, professional development activities, materials, and products to LEAs, schools, teachers, school personnel, and parents; A state-funded library housing professional development materials that will include scientifically based reading and family literacy research literature and descriptions of effective practices; Regional centers that will provide teacher support, modeling, coaching, and video conferencing to school personnel; and A research project to focus on effective reading strategies for English language learners.
Twenty five local educational agencies will be eligible for Local Reading Improvement subgrants and 27 LEAs will be eligible for Tutorial Assistance subgrants. Eligible LEAs will be invited to attend a workshop designed to familiarize LEAs with the requirements for subgrants and provide models of effective programs.
State Contact: Lou Marsh
Telephone: (850) 487-3520
E-mail Address: marshl@mail.doe.state.fl.us

IOWA
Iowa will receive $10,000,000 under the Reading Excellence Act to address lack of improvement in reading scores by Iowa children. Eight districts will be eligible for subgrants to establish local learning communities in high poverty schools or schools needing improvement. These school-community partnerships will address classroom instruction in kindergarten through third grade, extended learning opportunities for at-risk children, early reading readiness for preschool children, parental involvement, family literacy services, and coordinated reading, library, and literacy programs. Iowa already has in place a strategic plan, Iowa's Future: The Strategic Plan for Educational Excellence in the 21st Century, and a literacy initiative, Every Child Reads. The reading Excellence funds will extend Every Child Reads to more personnel than originally projected and permit high poverty schools to obtain the additional support needed to ensure that every child succeeds in reading. Iowa will work with experts from the Center for the Improvement of Early Reading Achievement (CIERA) as it implements its Reading Excellence grant.
State Contact: James H. Reese
Telephone: (515) 281-5751
E-mail Address: jim.reese@ed.state.ia.us

KANSAS
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) will receive a grant award of $2,670,764 in Reading Excellence funds to support the comprehensive effort to improve early literacy in the State. Through a coordinated effort with experts from institutions of higher education, the KSDE will conduct preliminary technical assistance workshops throughout the state for districts eligible for Reading Excellence grants. The technical assistance workshops will provide to the districts necessary information on scientifically based reading research and practice. The KSDE's partnership with institutions of higher education will also include creating a research design based on national studies, external evaluator research questions and local educational agency research questions. The local educational agencies that receive funds will then be required to follow the research design created by the KSDE and institutions of higher education. The State will also offer an informational session in October 1999 for individuals who have a reading specialization and who may be interested in providing professional development to districts that receive Reading Excellence funds. These participants must be willing to provide continuous and ongoing professional development to districts receiving Reading Excellence funds for at least 50 hours during the two-year period.
State Contact: Dr. Sharon Freden
Telephone: (785) 296-2303
E-mail Address: sfreden@ksbe.state.ks.us

KENTUCKY
The Kentucky Department of Education will receive $7,500,000, of which $7,125,000 will be used to make two-year competitive awards to eligible local school districts to implement research-based reading strategies. The funds will provide: Professional development in comprehensive scientifically based reading instruction for all teachers at participating elementary schools, as well as for other instructional staff, including volunteers and tutors, parents, and early childhood providers; Intervention programs for kindergartners and other primary school children experiencing difficulty with early literacy skills; Family literacy involving young children and their parents; and Tutoring and extended learning opportunities for preschoolers about to enter primary school and primary students experiencing difficulty in reading, including those who might otherwise be referred for exceptional child services. A majority of the school districts in Kentucky (158 out of 176, or 90 percent) will be eligible to compete for subgrants. The REA program activities will be coordinated with, and will build upon, current education reform efforts in Kentucky.
State Contact: Debbie Schumacher
Telephone: (502) 564-7056
E-mail Address: dschumac@kde.state.ky.us

LOUISIANA
Louisiana will receive $15,014,966 in Reading Excellence Act funds to carry out reforms in reading instruction for children in its highest poverty districts and schools. Louisiana has already begun reading instruction reforms through joint initiatives of the State legislature and State Board of Education. Its new K-3 reading and math initiative and an earlier public school accountability system have paid off in improved test scores. The Reading Excellence grant will help ensure that every classroom in participating schools uses the best practices from scientifically based reading research. Louisiana will work with experts from the Center for the Improvement of Early Reading Achievement (CIERA) in partnership with state universities and regional education service centers to ensure that districts and schools receive the help they need.
State Contact: Pam Wall
Telephone: (225) 342-9442
E-mail Address: pwall@mail.doc.state.la.us

MAINE
Maine Department of Education will receive $4,000,000 in Reading Excellence funds to provide for statewide professional development, including a summer literacy conference. The Maine Department of Education is requiring school districts receiving Reading Excellence funds to develop Reading Excellence School Management Teams to oversee the grant at the LEA level. The Reading Management Teams will be trained by the State. Maine is in the process of redesigning requirements for teacher certification. The Maine Department of Education will coordinate with the University of Maine to conduct the evaluation for the Reading Excellence grant.
State Contact: Katherine Manning
Telephone: (207) 287-5306
E-mail Address: kathy.manning@state.me.us

MARYLAND
The Maryland State Department of Education will receive $14,975,575 in Reading Excellence Act funds. Maryland's goals for the program are to ensure that: Children in targeted schools will have the readiness skills and support to learn to read once they enter school; Children in targeted schools will learn to read by the end of the third grade, meeting standards established in the Maryland English Language Arts Content Standards; and The instructional practices of teachers and other instructional staff in the targeted schools reflect the best educational practices and arise from scientifically based research. Maryland will distribute REA funds to eligible school districts through a competitive subgrant process. Eight school districts will be eligible to compete for subgrant funds.
State Contact: Gertrude Collier
Telephone: (410) 767-0341
E-mail Address: tcollier@msde.state.md.us

MASSACHUSETTS
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts will receive $18,306,000 under the Reading Excellence Program of which $17,400,000 will be awarded to eligible school districts. The State will use the remaining funds to work collaboratively with the Regional Educational Laboratory at Brown University, the RMC Research Corporation, the New England Comprehensive Assistance Center at EDC, institutions of higher education, family literacy service providers, and the Massachusetts Reading Association to provide support for local district implementation. This network will provide information to eligible school districts about using instructional practices based on scientifically based reading research through workshops and direct technical assistance. The Massachusetts Department of Education will build on, and promote coordination among, literacy programs in the State in order to increase the effectiveness of the programs in improving reading for adults and children.
State Contact: Linda Martin
Telephone: (781) 388-3300
E-mail Address: lmartin@doe.mass.edu

OHIO
Ohio will receive $30,637,008 under the Reading Excellence Act to work with its highest poverty districts and schools to improve reading achievement in kindergarten through third grade. Ohio is building on existing initiatives to improve reading — Ohio Reads and the Ohio Family Literacy Program. The State will support a systematic approach to literacy development that includes a system of assessment to identify children who are at risk of early reading failure; alignment of state standards and assessments, a continuous literacy curriculum from preschool through grade four, ongoing professional development; and family literacy strategies. Ohio's literacy program is strongly based on findings from scientific reading research.
Local schools must implement Ohio's eight-point framework for literacy, working with parents and community partners to improve all aspects of education for young children. Schools must hold parent involvement activities at least four times a year and commit to communicating personally with each family throughout the year.
State Contact: Dr. Jane Wiechel
Telephone: (614) 466-0224
E-mail Address: ece_Wiechel@ode.ohio.gov

OREGON
The Oregon Department of Education will receive $6,243,775 to support the Reading Excellence Act. Funds will be coordinated with several federal and state programs to foster improved instructional practices in teaching reading to increase student achievement. School districts will develop Consolidated District Improvement Plans for activities to improve instructional practices for reading according to scientifically based reading research. The state will sponsor presentations on scientifically based reading programs and provide technical assistance to districts and schools.
State Contact: Dawn Billings
Telephone: (503) 378-8004x288
E-mail Address: dawn.billings@state.or.us

PENNSYLVANIA
The Pennsylvania Department of Education will receive $30,000,000 in Reading Excellence funds to build on existing literacy efforts. The State has a comprehensive school reform plan that includes literacy as a priority. Pennsylvania has developed a framework for implementing the Reading Excellence Program which addresses research based expectations with respect to what young children should be accomplishing, literacy/reading activities and experiences recommended by current research, and partnerships and other structures and procedures for the coordination and management of local, state, and federal resources. The State will provide direction on expectations for school district projects, offer workshops, and provide technical assistance. Twenty-five school districts are eligible for subgrants.
State Contact: James Sheffer
Telephone: (117) 783-2193
E-mail Address: JSheffer@education.state.pa.us

RHODE ISLAND
Rhode Island will receive $4,000,000 in funding under the Reading Excellence Act (REA) to work with its highest poverty districts and schools to improve reading instruction in kindergarten through third grade. Joint support between the Governor and the State Commissioner of Education led to convening of a Reading and Literacy Partnership panel that will support both the State's new Reading Excellence grant activities as well as the Rhode Island Reading Alliance. The REA grant will serve as a keystone for primary grade reform in Rhode Island -- lessons learned will be used throughout the state. The state will sponsor a variety of workshops that reflect scientifically based reading research, and provide technical assistance to eligible districts and schools to help them develop comprehensive plans to improve reading. Local schools must participate in a professional development network provided by the State for teacher leaders, as well as organize school-based professional development to construct a comprehensive, systematic reading program for teachers and administrators. The University of Rhode Island's Family Resource Partnership will evaluate the Reading Excellence program and provide feedback to the State and participating schools and districts during the three years of the grant.
State Contact: Charlotte Diffendale
Telephone: (401) 222-4600
E-mail Address charld@ride.ri.net

TEXAS
The Reading Excellence and Academic Development Program for Texas (READ for Texas) will receive $35,999,855 under the Reading Excellence Program to support research based reading programs. The state will focus on developing a comprehensive model of beginning reading instruction founded on scientifically based reading research for use by eligible school districts and against which programs and professional development products can be evaluated. Support for developing the comprehensive model will be provided through the Center for Academic and Reading Skills (CARS), the Texas Center for Reading and Language Arts (TCRLA) and the Texas Family Literacy Center (TFLC). The three centers will also provide materials for professional development and support state staff in assisting school districts with the implementation process. School districts receiving funds will be required to carry out the following activities: conduct professional development for teachers and instructional staff on the teaching of reading according to scientifically based reading research; select one or more programs of reading instruction using scientifically based reading research; provide family literacy; implement programs to assist kindergartners not ready for the transition to first grade; and use supervised individuals who have been trained using scientifically based reading research.
State Contact: Gina S. Day
Telephone: (512) 463-9027
E-mail Address gday@tea.tetn.net

UTAH
The Utah State Office of Education will receive $8,000,000 under the Reading Excellence Program to improve reading in kindergarten through third grade. As many as 11 local school districts may participate in this program. The program will be operated in collaboration with the University of Utah to infuse the latest findings from scientifically based reading research into curriculums and instruction in the state's poorest schools. Coordination with existing federal and state programs is highlighted as a priority by the state. In addition to state staff, a team of six technical specialists will work directly with schools and communities in different regions throughout the state to provide technical services; conduct seven professional development workshops over two years for district and school leadership teams; monitor implementation of the subgrants; and provide feedback to the Director, Reading and Literacy Partnership, and evaluator. Finally, the Reading Excellence grant will help the state with a critical need it has identified. Priority will be given to school districts that demonstrate a commitment to the implementation of programs that meet the needs of students who are English language learners.
State Contact: Jan Dole
Telephone: (801) 538-7823
E-mail Address: jdole@usoe.k12.ut.us

VERMONT
The Vermont Department of Education will receive $2,010,472 to operate the state's Reading Excellence program that will be aligned to the existing initiative Vermont Reads. Its goals are: To make expectations for research-based reading improvements clear to staff from participating schools; to support adoption of research based instructional programs, highly effective strategies/professional development, and other key factors to boost success across all of the major components of reading; and to monitor progress through collection and analysis of annual statewide student assessment results for reading at the end of grade two, and teacher surveys focusing on instructional practices. The project is designed to improve reading practices and student performance in its most-at-risk schools. The program's evaluation will include a study of student performance in reading as well as longitudinal process evaluation of changes in teacher practices and school implementation. The evaluation will be conducted at both the school and the classroom level. The state has 16 eligible school districts.
State Contact: Susan C. Biggam
Telephone: (802) 828-5412
E-mail Address: sbiggam@doe.state.vt.us

WEST VIRGINIA
The West Virginia Department of Education will receive $6,433,550 in Reading Excellence funding to build on Reading For All, a comprehensive program based on scientifically based reading research designed to develop the ability of children to read. The program places specific emphasis on professional development, prevention and intervention of reading difficulties, and family literacy opportunities through its three component parts: Learning to Read (grades K-4), Reading to Learn (grades 5-12), and Reading to Succeed (adult basic education). The Reading Excellence grant will provide additional funds for intervention in grades K-3 and increase the rate of implementation and impact of the program in high need schools districts. The state will provide professional development and training activities, publish and disseminate materials to teachers and parents, provide technical assistance to districts and schools, and oversee the overall implementation of the grant. There are 38 eligible districts.
State Contact: Beverly Kingery
Telephone: (304) 558-7805
E-mail Address: bkingery@access.k12.wv.us

Diane August
Principal, August and Associates - Bethesda, Maryland

Virginia Berninger
Professor of Educational Psychology Director, Learning Disability - Research Center University of Washington at Seattle

David Cordray
Professor of Public Policy and Psychology and Co-director, Center of Evaluation and Research Methodology - Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee

Sharon Darling
President, National Center for Family Literacy - Louisville, Kentucky

David Dickinson
Education Development Center - Newton, Massachusetts

Jack Fletcher
Center for Academic and Reading Skills, University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center - Houston, Texas

Vivian Gadsden
Associate Professor, University of Pennsylvania Director, National Center on Fathers and Families and Associate Director, National Center on Adult Literacy - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

John Guthrie
Professor of Human Development - University of Maryland at College Park

Andrew Hayes
Associate Professor, Watson School of Education - University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Phyllis Hunter
Director, Reading Department Houston Independent School District - Houston, Texas

Joseph Johnson
Director, Collaborative for School Improvement Charles A. Dana Center - University of Texas at Austin

Connie L. Juel
Professor, Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education - University of Virginia, Charlottesville

Julia Lara
Assistant Director, Resource Center on Educational Equity, Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) - Washington, D.C.

John Lloyd
Professor, Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education, Curry School of Education Co-director, Virginia Behavior Disorders Project - University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia

Henry Mothner
Director, Southern California Comprehensive Assistance Center - Downey, California

Alba Ortiz
Associate Dean/Hinojosa Professor University of Texas, College of Education - Austin, Texas

Annemarie Sullivan Palincsar
Jean and Charles Walgreen Professor of Reading and Literacy and Associate Dean of Graduate Affairs, School of Education - University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Jeanne R. Paratore
Associate Professor, Developmental Studies and Counseling - Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts

Charles Perfetti
Professor of Psychology and Linguistics and Senior Scientist, Learning Research & Development Center - University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Elizabeth Primas
Teacher, Anthony Bowen Elementary School - District of Columbia Public Schools

Donna Scanlon
Associate Director, Child Research and Study Center - The University at Albany, Albany, New York

Sally Shaywitz
Professor of Pediatrics and Co-director, Yale Center for the Study of Learning and Attention - Yale University, School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut

Catherine Snow
Henry Lee Shattuck Professor of Education Graduate School of Education - Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Robert St.Pierre
Vice-president and Principal Associate - Abt Associates Inc., Breckenridge, Colorado

Joseph Torgesen
Professor of Psychology and Director of Cognitive and Behavioral Science Program - Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida.

NOTE TO EDITORS: A summary of state proposals will be available at www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/REA.

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