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How Virginia is implementing the research findings in the National Research Council Report, "Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children."
The research findings in the NRC Report, "Preventing Reading Difficulties in Young Children" provide additional support for Virginia?s Early Intervention Reading Initiative which is currently in its second year of implementation.
In the fall of 1996 after a review of the research by the Department of Education, Virginia?s
Early Intervention Reading Initiative was proposed by the Governor and funded by the 1997 Virginia Acts of Assembly. The purpose of the Initiative is to reduce the number of students with reading problems by the end of first grade through early diagnosis and correction of research identified reading readiness deficits.
The Initiative provides school districts who elect to participate with incentive funds to provide additional instruction to kindergarten or first grade students who demonstrate difficulty learning to read. All children at the chosen grade level must be assessed, and all children not meeting the fall screening criteria must be served. Each division designs its own model to provide intervention services consistent with their current reading curriculum.
The initiative also funds a diagnostic literacy assessment, PALS - Phonological Awareness and Literacy Screening. The Virginia Department of Education awarded a grant to the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia to develop the screening instrument that teachers use to assess and identify students who could benefit from additional instruction. PALS is designed to measure the Virginia English Standards of Learning that address rhyme awareness, beginning sound awareness, alphabet knowledge, letter sound knowledge, concept of word, concept of story, and word recognition.
For additional information, visit our website at: www.pen.k12.va.us/go/VDOE/Instruction/Reading/reading.html
During the 1997-1998 school year, 117 of Virginia's 132 school divisions elected to participate in the Early Intervention Reading Initiative. Of the school divisions participating, 108 reported their screening results to the PALS Office at the University of Virginia. During the fall screening window, 53,769 students were screened with 27% of the kindergarten students and 15% of the first grade students not meeting the fall criteria. Preliminary spring screening results for students that had both fall and spring data indicated that 74% of the kindergarten students and 42% of the first grade students who received intervention services were at or above criteria on the spring screening.
Feedback from administrators and teachers indicated that the initiative has had a positive effect on planning, instruction, and communication to parents. Teachers reported that students? strengths and weaknesses were clearly demonstrated, thus making planning for instruction easier and more focused. Administrators reported that the Reading Initiative has helped in the process of rethinking and changing curriculum and instruction to better meet the needs of students in the primary grades.
Linda Poorbaugh
Elementary/Middle School Instructional Services
Virginia Department of Education
P.O. Box 2120
Richmond, VA 23218-2120
(804) 786-3925
(804) 786-1703 Fax
E-mail: lpoorbau@pen.k12.va.us
State: Virginia
Team Leader: Linda Poorbaugh
Phone Number: 804-786-3925
As a result of attending this Summit, what two things does your state team commit to doing in the next six months toward enhanced literacy for children and their families?
[Washington]