ALL ABOUT READING
Studies and Findings
National Reading Panel
1997
"Congress asked the Director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) in consultation with the Secretary of Education, to convene a national panel to assess the effectiveness of different approaches used to teach children to read. For over two years, the NRP reviewed research-based knowledge on reading instruction and held open panel meetings in Washington, DC, and regional meetings across the United States. On April 13, 2000, the NRP concluded its work and submitted 'The Report of the National Reading Panel: Teaching Children to Read,' at a hearing before the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education." (http://nationalreadingpanel.org/NRPAbout/about_nrp.htm)
Five Elements of Reading
1. phonemic awareness
2. phonics
3. fluency
4. vocabulary
5. comprehension.
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
2000
This act of Congress that reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, an act that provides federal aid for disadvantaged students. NCLB sets high standards and measurable goals to improve individual outcomes in education. According to NCLB, states are to develop assessments for basic skills in select grade levels to receive federal funding. NCLB expands the government’s role in public education by emphasizing annual testing, annual academic progress, report cards, teacher qualifications, and changes in funding. NCLB stated that all children were to be proficient in math and reading by 2014.
This act also brought about the Reading First Initiative. Reading First was created to encourage the use of scientifically based research as the foundation for K–3 reading instruction. As an incentive for schools, Reading First has $900 million in state grants. States are only eligible for this money if they can demonstrate how they plan to help their local educational agencies improve reading instruction and student achievement using reading instruction and assessment built on scientifically based research. The goal is to have every student reading at grade level or above by third grade.
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/overview-reading-first
