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How Illinois is implementing the research findings in the National Research Council Report, "Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children."
Information from the NRC Report was included in the Illinois Right to Read Initiative?s Summer Institute held at eight locations in Illinois this August. Over 2000 teachers and administrators for kindergarten through sixth grade attended these Institutes. These teachers and administrators were provided with ordering information for the Report and received a two-page excerpt in their packet of materials.
The Illinois general assembly has responded to the priority for improving reading by appropriating $83 million for reading instruction grants to local school districts in 1998-99. This was an increase of almost 50%.
As part of the state board?s "right to read" initiative, the board has disseminated a publication called the Little Red Reading Book. This publication was focused on K-3 teachers and provides them with research-based information and strategies for improving reading. This has been received with enthusiasm, and we are in a second printing.
Jean Lewis
State Board of Education
100 N. First St.
Springfield, IL 62703
(217) 524-4832
(217) 785-9031 Fax
E-mail: jlewis@smtp.isbe.state.il.us
[Indiana]