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ExpectMore.govExpectMore.gov home pageEXPECT FEDERAL PROGRAMS TO PERFORM WELL, AND BETTER EVERY YEAR.
 
Program Assessment

Program

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Reading First State Grants

The Reading First program is designed to help ensure that all children can read at grade level through comprehensive scientifically based reading instruction. Funds are distributed through formula grants to States and subgrants are made to schools with the greatest need for intensive reading intervention.

Rating

What This Rating Means

PERFORMING
Effective

This is the highest rating a program can achieve. Programs rated Effective set ambitious goals, achieve results, are well-managed and improve efficiency.
  • The Reading First program has a strong program design and good management practices, and appears to bring about improvements in students' reading abilities. A small Department of Education staff leverages its efforts through technical assistance contracts and the efforts of States.
  • The program has shown improvements in the reading ability of various subgroups of students and has met performance targets; however, some groups are not improving as quickly as others.
  • A major evaluation of the implementation of the Reading First program has been completed and yielded positive results. A large-scale scientifically based examination is scheduled to generate an interim report in 2007 and a final report in 2008.

Improvement Plan

About Improvement Plans

We are taking the following actions to improve the performance of the program:

  • Improving efficiency of the program by fostering rapid response to reports from regular on-site monitoring visits.
  • Pursuing targeted professional development activities to ensure that all subgroups of students in Reading First schools receive instruction to improve the ability to read on grade level.
  • Completing impact evaluation activities and disseminating findings regarding the effectiveness of various instructional techniques that can be used in Reading First and other reading programs.

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