U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today released the following statement in regard to The Reading First Program's Grant Application Process, a report by the Department of Education's Office of the Inspector General.

"Reading First is one of the best tools we have to achieve the goal of the No Child Left Behind Act of every student in America reading at grade level by 2014. While the Reading First program is still in its early years, I am greatly encouraged by its success in helping students achieve gains in literacy all over this nation. Thanks to Reading First, struggling students are far more likely to get the help they need from teachers using scientifically-based classroom reading instruction."

"I am deeply committed to the highest levels of integrity and ethics for the Department of Education and all its programs. Some of the actions taken by Department officials and described in the Inspector General's report reflect individual mistakes. Although these events occurred before I became Secretary of Education, I am concerned about these actions and committed to addressing and resolving them. I am therefore moving swiftly to enact all of the Inspector General's recommendations."

"I remain convinced that the Reading First program has been helpful in ensuring that reading achievement has dramatically improved in the nation's highest-need schools."

To view the Inspector General's report, please visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oig/whatsnew.html

###

Top

Back to September 2006