DETROIT –– U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige today joined Michigan Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus, Michigan Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Watkins, Detroit Schools Chief Executive Officer Ken Burnley and other Michigan leaders to kick off the new school year by awarding nearly $28.5 million to Michigan's Reading First program for students. Secretary Paige spoke to an estimated 12,000 principals, assistant principals, teachers and support staff at the students at the COBO Conference/Exhibition Center in Detroit.

"A child who can read is a child who can learn and succeed in school and in life," Paige said. "And the greatest hope that President Bush and I have is that all children –– no matter the color of their skin or the accent of their speech –– get a great education so that they all have an opportunity to achieve their dreams. Michigan's Reading First program is helping to ensure a brighter future for all the children in Michigan."

Michigan will use the grant to help schools and school districts improve student's reading achievement under Reading First, President Bush's reading reform initiative built on scientifically based research. Michigan will receive $28.5 million this year and $186.5 million over the next six years, subject to the state's successful implementation and congressional appropriations.

The grant to Michigan will support significant improvements in classroom reading instruction for children in kindergarten through third grade based on proven methods, screening and diagnosis of reading difficulties, monitoring of student progress and thorough and high–quality professional development for teachers. Michigan will build a statewide infrastructure to guide reform and assist school districts that are funded under a state–run competition for subgrants.

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 scientific research proven to work in the teaching of reading;
• providing professional training for educators in reading instruction; and
• supplying substantial resources to support the unprecedented initiative.

Under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, which the president signed in January, states and school districts will develop strong systems of accountability based upon student performance. The new law also gives states and school districts increased local control and flexibility, removing federal red tape and bureaucracy and putting decision making in the hands of those at the local and state levels. Parents of children from disadvantaged backgrounds will have options under the new law to participate in public school choice programs or obtain supplemental services such as tutoring. And, teachers around the country will be encouraged to use teaching methods based upon scientific research that show they have been proven to work.

Paige also noted that this year, Michigan's federal education funding has increased to nearly $1.5 billion –– a $185 million rise over last year. Title I funding to help children in Michigan's high–need schools has climbed $62 million, to about $421 million.

For more information about the No Child Left Behind Act, including Reading First, please visit www.nochildleftbehind.gov.

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