The Rhode Island Reading First Program funding ended on September 30, 2010.  No new Reading First Grants have been awarded.

The purpose of Reading First was to ensure that all children learn to read well by the end of third grade.  Quite simply, Reading First focused on what works.  The program supported 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:

• provided the necessary assistance to districts and schools to establish research-based reading instruction for students in kindergarten through third grade.
• focused on providing high-quality and sustained professional development to ensure that all teachers, including special education and ESL teachers, had the knowledge and skills that they needed to teach reading effectively. 
• provided assistance for the selection, administration, and interpretation of screening, diagnostic, classroom-based progress monitoring, and outcome assessments with proven validity and reliability.  This enabled teachers to measure where students were, monitor their progress, and provide any required intervention and/or support.

The Rhode Island Reading First Program gave teachers the skills and support they needed to teach all children to read fluently by the end of third grade.  Student achievement and poverty determined a school’s eligibility.  Funds were awarded through a competitive grant process.

COHORT 1 (first awarded January 30, 2004):

Providence Schools: 
(completed commitment on September 30, 2009 unless otherwise noted)

Pawtucket Schools:
(completed commitment on September 30, 2006)

• Alfred Lima Elementary School
• Alan Shawn Feinstein on Broad Street
  (discontinued SY 2008-2009)
• Charles Fortes Elementary School
• Laurel Hill Avenue Elementary School
• Mary Fogarty Elementary School
• Robert Bailey, IV Elementary School
• Webster Avenue Elementary School
• Windmill Street Elementary School

• Curvin-McCabe Elementary School
• Potter-Burns Elementary School
• Henry J. Winters Elementary School
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

COHORT 2 (first awarded July 1, 2004):

Central Falls Schools:
(completed commitment on June 30, 2009)

West Warwick Schools:
(discontinued on June 30, 2005)

• Alan Shawn Feinstein Elementary School

• Greenbush Elementary School

COHORT 3 (first awarded February 15, 2004):

Pawtucket Schools:
(completed commitment on September 30, 2007):

• Flora Curtis Elementary School

COHORT 4 (first awarded February 1, 2006):

Providence Schools: 
(funding ended on September 30, 2010)

• Anthony Carnavale Elementary School

COHORT 5 (first awarded March 30, 2007):

Providence Schools: 
(funding ended on September 30, 2010)

• Carl Lauro Elementary School
• Harry Kizirian Elementary School