Reading First is a federal

education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty ...

program in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

mandated under the No Child Left Behind Act and administered by the federal

Department of Education An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...

. The program requires that

school A school is an educational institution designed to provide learning spaces and learning environments for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is sometimes comp ...

s funded by Reading First use "scientifically based" reading instruction. Program funding is allocated to Title I Schools for "Scientifically Based Reading Research" (SBRR) and also for hiring "coaches," who assist teachers in learning the newest SBRR for use in classrooms. Coaches analyze data to drive instruction for individual children in every classroom. Reading First is limited to

kindergarten Kindergarten is a preschool educational approach based on playing, singing, practical activities such as drawing, and social interaction as part of the transition from home to school. Such institutions were originally made in the late 18th ce ...

through third-grade classes, while Early Reading First money is allocated for pre-kindergarten materials and coaches. In September 2006, an internal review by the Department of Education's Office of Inspector General found the Reading First program exhibited

conflicts of interest A conflict of interest (COI) is a situation in which a person or organization is involved in multiple wikt:interest#Noun, interests, finance, financial or otherwise, and serving one interest could involve working against another. Typically, t ...

in that some of the consultants hired by the Department of Education to train teachers and state department of education personnel also were coauthors of certain reading programs. The review also suggested the department repeatedly tried to dictate which curriculum schools must use. The US Department of Education reacted to reports that some states believed that they should purchase certain reading programs with federal Reading First funds by publishing a statement for states that this was not the case and was not a requirement for federal funding. Still, the perception remained. The program also has many defenders. Some state departments of education and local school districts appreciate the federal support it provides. A large-scale nationwide study of the program released in 2008 found that it does not improve students' reading comprehension, although testing in many states has found improvement in basic reading skills.Kathleen Kennedy Manzo
Reading First Doesn't Help Pupils 'Get it'
''

Education Week ''Education Week'' is an independent news organization that has covered K–12 education since 1981. It is owned by Editorial Projects in Education (EPE), a nonprofit organization, and headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland in Greater Washington ...

'', May 7, 2008

References

{{reflist

External links

"Bush's Billion-Dollar a Year Reading Program Beset by Favoritism, Mismanagement,"
by Ben Feller, The Associated Press, September 23, 2006.
Funds for 'Reading First' Program in Peril
by Larry Abramson. Morning Edition, National Public Radio, July 27, 2007.
Reading First Impact Study, Interim Report
April 2008 Learning to read Reading (process) United States federal education legislation