RACINE, Wis. -- U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today announced that Wisconsin will receive approximately $11.1 million for the first year of a multi-year Reading First grant to help schools and districts improve children's reading achievement through scientifically proven methods of instruction.

Ken Meyer, U.S. Department of Education special assistant in the Office of Intergovernmental and Interagency Affairs, made the announcement during a visit to Goodland Elementary School. He was joined by Congressman Paul Ryan, Superintendent of Education Elizabeth Burmaster, other school officials and local leaders.

The state's application passed a rigorous review panel that judged the plan against 25 main review criteria. Over six years, Wisconsin will receive approximately $74.5 million in support, subject to the state's successful implementation and congressional appropriations.

The grant will support key improvements in classroom reading instruction, including teaching based on what research shows works, early identification and help for reading difficulties, monitoring student progress, and continuous, high-quality professional development for teachers. States will create a statewide infrastructure to steer reform and help school districts that will receive funding under a state-run competition for district subgrants.

"Children who learn to read well in the early grades are far more successful in later years," Paige said. "Reading is the gateway to success in other subjects.

"Improving the reading skills of children is a top priority for President Bush and me," Paige added. "This administration is seriously committed to helping states and local school districts establish high-quality, comprehensive reading instruction for all children in kindergarten through the third grade. By designing sound curriculum and instruction around scientific evidence, including the five essential components of proven reading instruction, children in Wisconsin and other states will have the necessary tools to put them on the road to successful, productive lives."

Wisconsin plans to hold a competition for eligible school districts to compete for subgrants this spring. As part of its professional development plan, the state will hold a series of six workshops for all K-3 teachers and K-12 special education teachers. These professional development sessions will provide intensive training on classroom reading instruction based on scientific research, so that teachers learn to tailor instruction around sound, research-based information.

One of President Bush's first actions after taking office was to make improving 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. Academic achievement can be enhanced through early diagnosis and help for reading difficulties.

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.

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. Successful states will receive funds under a formula.

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

A list of estimated state grants for FY 2002, FY 2003 and under President Bush's budget request for FY2004 is available at:

http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/statetables/index.html.

NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information about Wisconsin's plans for Reading First, contact Kathleen Ellickson at (608) 266-9616.

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