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Two programs largely excluded by the
federal Reading First program received the highest rating
for research on reading outcomes given in a recent review.
The review, issued by the Comprehensive School Reform
Quality Center (CSRQ) at the respected American Institutes
for Research, identified Success for All and the Direct
Instruction Full Immersion program as having the strongest
evidence of effectiveness for reading among 22 comprehensive
school reform programs.
Despite the strong emphasis on evidence
of effectiveness in the Reading First legislation, intended
to help low-achieving children in grades 1-3 learn to
read, the $1 billion a year Reading First program has
instead emphasized traditional basal textbooks lacking
evidence of effectiveness. Only 3% of Reading First
grants have gone to schools using either of these programs.
Robert Slavin, a Johns Hopkins University researcher
and Chairman of the non-profit Success for All Foundation
said, “The CSRQ report used rigorous standards.
It found 31 studies of Success for All and 10 of Direct
Instruction that met its standards. If the same standards
had been applied to the basal textbooks favored by Reading
First, not one would have had more than a single qualifying
study. Most have no research base at all.”
The Success for All Foundation and
other reading reform organizations have submitted complaints
to the U.S. Department of Education’s Inspector
General, and the General Accountability Office is investigating
at the request of Congress. The investigations are looking
into allegations that the Department of Education failed
to implement Reading First as intended and that there
are serious conflicts of interest, as key Reading First
contractors are authors of the commercial programs favored
by Reading First.
The CSRQ report is available Click
Here
Also see:
Toppo, G. (2005, August 8).
Federally funded Reading First called into question.
USA Today.
Manzo, K. (2005, June 22). Complaint filed against reading
initiative. Education Week.
Brownstein, A., & Hicks, T. (2005, August 29). IG
targets conflicts of interest: Limits on local control.
Title I Monitor.
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