BURNS, Wyo.—The U.S. Department of Education today announced that the state of Wyoming will receive $2.1 million for the first year of a multiyear Reading First grant to help schools and districts improve children's reading achievement through scientifically proven methods of instruction. In total, over six years, the state will receive approximately $14.4 million in Reading First funds, subject to the state's successful implementation and congressional appropriations.

On behalf of Secretary of Education Rod Paige, Pat Chlouber, the secretary's regional representative for Region VIII, made the announcement today at West Elementary School in Burns, Wyo. Chlouber was joined by State Superintendent Trent Blankenship and West Elementary Principal Gary Roadifer.

"Reading is undeniably critical to success in today's society," Chlouber said. "The basic elements of Reading First are clear: diagnose and address reading difficulties early; base instruction on what works; give teachers the training they need; constantly assess progress; and develop a state infrastructure to see it through.

"The key to helping all children learn is to help teachers in each and every classroom benefit from the relevant research," Chlouber added. "By designing instruction around scientific evidence, Wyoming and other states will help ensure that all children learn to read by the end of the third grade." Wyoming's application passed a rigorous review panel that judged the plan against 25 main review criteria. The grant will support key improvements in classroom reading instruction, including teaching based on research that shows what works, early identification and help for reading difficulties, monitoring student progress and continuous, high-quality professional development for teachers.

Wyoming plans to use about $1.7 million of the grant to make approximately nine subgrant awards to eligible districts in April 2004. As part of its professional development plan, the state will hold Wyoming Early Literacy Institutes for school teams that include principals, reading coaches, K-3 teachers, K-12 special education teachers and Title I (schools with economically-disadvantaged students) reading specialists. The institutes will provide in-depth training in the using scientifically based reading research and the components of effective reading instruction; identifying, administering and using data from instructional assessments; choosing and implementing scientifically based reading materials and programs; implementing early reading interventions; and integrating standards and research into the classroom. The state will closely monitor the progress of schools and districts participating in Reading First, and will conduct a longitudinal evaluation of its program.

One of President Bush's first actions after taking office was to make improving children's reading achievement a centerpiece of his education reform agenda. Studies show that when children fail to learn to read early in school, every aspect of school success is affected. Academic achievement can be enhanced through early diagnosis.

The president designed Reading First around an extensive knowledge base of the essential skills children must have to learn to read. The program reflects the findings of a congressionally mandated extensive review of scientifically based research on how students learn to read, completed by the National Reading Panel in 2000.

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 scientifically proven methods;
• Providing professional training for educators in reading instruction.
• Supplying substantial resources to support the unprecedented initiative.

State applications undergo a rigorous review by a panel of reading experts, selected by the U.S. secretary of education, the National Institute for Literacy, the National Research Council and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Successful states will receive funds under a formula.

Paige has announced awards to Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

A list of estimated state grants for FY 2002, FY 2003 and FY 2004 (under President Bush's budget request) is available at: http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/statetables/index.html.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information about Wyoming's Reading First, contact Annette Bohling at 307-777-8568.

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