ALBANY, N.Y.-The U.S. Department of Education today announced that the state of New York will receive $129 million in federal reading grant funds to help schools and districts improve children's reading achievement through scientifically proven methods of instruction.

In total, over six years, New York is set to receive approximately $460.8 million in Reading First funds, subject to the state's successful implementation of the program and congressional appropriations.

"President Bush believes that we can give all children the reading skills they need. That's why his No Child Left Behind Act makes our nation's greatest-ever commitment to reading instruction for every child," Secretary Paige said. "By designing instruction around scientific evidence, New York and other states will help ensure that all children learn to read by the end of the third grade."

On behalf of Education Secretary Rod Paige, Department of Education General Counsel Brian Jones made the announcement today in the Red Room at the state Capitol in Albany. Gov. George Pataki and New York State Education Commissioner Richard Mills joined Jones for the announcement.

The Reading First program is the centerpiece of President Bush's sweeping education reform law, the No Child Left Behind Act. Studies show that when children fail to learn how to read during their early school years, every aspect of school success is affected. Academic achievement can be enhanced through early diagnosis.

"Reading is undeniably critical to success in today's society," Jones said. "The results of the most recent national test show that just one-third of children in fourth, eighth and twelfth grades are proficient readers. This is unacceptable to anyone concerned about the future of our nation."

New York's Reading First grant of $129 million includes all of the state's FY 2002 award and 80 percent of the state's FY 2003 award.

New York's application passed a rigorous review panel that judged the state's plan against 25 review criteria. The grant will support key improvements in classroom reading instruction, including teaching based on research that shows what works, identifying reading difficulties early and providing help, monitoring student progress and continuing high-quality professional development for teachers.

New York plans to give the bulk of the funds to schools in eligible districts in February 2004. As part of its professional development plan, the state will offer the New York State Reading Academy, a comprehensive Web-based program that focuses on evidence-based reading instruction, scientifically-based reading research and instructional assessment. All K-3 teachers, K-12 special education teachers and instructional leaders in Reading First school will participate in 80 hours of course content, in addition to follow-up discussion and interaction with peers and a qualified reading coach. The state will closely monitor the progress of schools and districts participating in Reading First and will conduct an ongoing evaluation of its program.

The Reading First program reflects President Bush's emphasis on the importance of reading. It was designed 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.
• 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, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

A list of estimated state grants for FY 2002-2004 (under President Bush's budget request) is available at: : http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/statetables/index.html.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information about New York's Reading First program, please contact Cynthia Gallagher at 518-474-5807.

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