Reading First (AB 65)

California Reading First (outside link)

Reading First is a national initiative to help every young child in every state become a successful reader, thus redefining the federal role in K-12 education by establishing the goal of closing the gap between disadvantaged children and their peers. The initiative stresses four areas:

• Stronger accountability
• Increased flexibility and local control
• Expanded options for parents
• Emphasis on proven teaching methods

The initiative creates a new authority to replace the REA Reading Excellence grant in order to help state and local agencies use scientifically-based research to implement comprehensive reading instruction from kindergarten to third grade.

The State of California will receive approximately $133 million from the federal government for Reading First. Most of the funds will be available for competitive grants that eligible school districts can use to improve classroom instruction in reading.

California's Reading First plan will build on the state's legal requirements in four categories:

• Instructional materials
• Assessments
• School site administrator training
• Teacher professional development

All of these components are aligned to California's academic content standards.

Related links:

CDE: Reading First (outside link)

San Diego Reading First Regional Technical Assistance Center (SD RTAC) (outside link)