The Rhode Island Reading First
Program
The purpose of Reading First
is to ensure that all children learn to read well by the end of third grade.
Quite simply, Reading First focuses on what works. The program supports
proven methods of early reading instruction in classrooms. Federal funds
were first awarded to Rhode Island on September 30, 2003.
The Rhode Island Reading First
Program:
-
provides the necessary assistance
to districts and schools to establish research-based reading instruction for
students in kindergarten through third grade.
-
focuses on providing high-quality
and sustained professional development to ensure that all teachers,
including special education and ESL teachers, have the knowledge and skills
that they need to teach reading effectively.
-
provides assistance for the
selection, administration, and interpretation of screening, diagnostic,
classroom-based progress monitoring, and outcome assessments with proven
validity and reliability. This enables teachers to measure where students
are, monitor their progress, and provide any required intervention and/or
support.
The
Rhode Island Reading
First Program gives teachers the skills and support they need to
teach all children to read fluently by the end of third grade.
Student achievement and poverty
determine a school’s eligibility. Funds are awarded through a competitive grant
process.
RHODE ISLAND READING FIRST SCHOOLS
COHORT 1 (first awarded January 30, 2004):
Providence Schools:
Pawtucket Schools (first awarded January 30, 2004):
(completed commitment on September 30, 2006)
COHORT 2 (first awarded July 1, 2004):
Central Falls Schools:
West Warwick Schools
(discontinued on June 30, 2005):
COHORT 3 (first awarded February 15, 2004):
Pawtucket Schools
(completed commitment on September 30, 2007):
COHORT 4 (first awarded February 1, 2006):
Providence Schools
(completed commitment on September 30, 2007):
COHORT 5 (first awarded March 30,
2007):
Providence Schools
(completed commitment on September 30, 2007):
Taken
together, the complimentary research-based programs, practices, and
tools required by Reading
First will give teachers the skills and support they need to
teach all children to read fluently by the end of third grade.