U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today announced that Louisiana will receive more than $19.2 million for the first year of a multiyear Reading First grant to help schools and districts improve children's reading achievement using scientifically proven methods of instruction.

The state's application detailing plans for Reading First passed a rigorous review panel that judged the plan against 25 main review criteria. Over six years, Louisiana will receive approximately $124.7 million in support, subject to the state's successful implementation and congressional appropriations. More than half of the states have now received their first year of funding under the unprecedented effort to improve reading achievement; Louisiana is the 27th state to be funded.

"Reading First is a model for what No Child Left Behind is all about. The basic elements are straightforward: diagnose and address reading difficulties early; base instruction on what works; give teachers the training they need; constantly assess progress; and develop a state infrastructure to see it through," Paige said. "By designing instruction around scientific evidence-including the five essential components of proven reading instruction-we will greatly increase the likelihood that all children will learn to read by the end of the third grade."

The grant, which triples previous federal support for K-3 reading instruction, will fund key improvements in classroom reading instruction including teaching based on solid and substantial research, early identification and help for reading difficulties, monitoring of student progress, and continuous, high-quality professional development for teachers.

States will also create a statewide infrastructure to steer reform and help school districts that receive funding under a state-run competition for district subgrants. Louisiana plans to hold a competition for eligible school districts to compete for subgrants this spring, and the state plans to support some 75 schools in eligible school districts. As part of its plan for professional development, the state will hold regional Reading Teacher Institutes for K-3 teachers on scientifically based teaching strategies. The state will also sponsor a Reading Leadership Academy for principals and key district staff.

One of President Bush's first actions after taking office was making improved children's reading achievement a centerpiece of his education reform agenda. Studies show that when children fail to learn to read early in school, every aspect of school success is affected. By providing early diagnosis and help for reading difficulties, Reading First-supported programs will help improve student motivation and academic achievement.

The president designed Reading First around an extensive knowledge base of the essential skills children must have to learn to read. The program reflects the findings of a congressionally mandated, extensive review of scientifically based research on how students learn to read, completed by the National Reading Panel in 2000.

Reading First was passed into law by a bipartisan majority of Congress under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and centers on the following priorities:

• raising the caliber and quality of classroom instruction;
• basing instruction on scientifically proven methods;
• providing professional training for educators in reading instruction; and
• supplying substantial resources to support the unprecedented initiative.

To help them develop quality programs and solid Reading First applications, states had the benefit of three days of assistance during Secretary Paige's Reading Leadership Academies held in spring 2002. State applications undergo a rigorous review by a panel of reading experts, selected by the secretary of education, the National Institute for Literacy, the National Research Council and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Paige has announced awards to Alabama, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia and Washington.

States that are successful will receive funds under a formula. A list of estimated state grants for FY 2002, FY 2003 and FY2004 (under President Bush's budget request) is available at http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/statetables/index.html

Note to editors: For more information about Louisiana's plans for Reading First, Contact Robin Jarvis (225) 342-4166.

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