IRA responds to Reading First report

  On Friday afternoon, the International Reading Association issued the following press release regarding the U.S. Department of Education Office of the Inspector General’s (IG) report on Reading First. Watch for further information both here and in Reading Today.

The U.S. Department of Education Office of the Inspector General’s (IG) report on Reading First outlines unethical actions by several individuals who violated the intent and spirit of the Reading First statute in an ongoing and systematic manner. These actions have damaged the integrity of the Department. It is to its credit that they have issued this report. Now it is time to implement its findings.

The IG’s report directly quotes individual communications to establish that there was a plan to direct the outcomes of independent panels, stack those panels with those who already had formed a bias, and promote specific reading programs while eliminating others. Specifically, the report finds that the Department:

* Developed an application package that obscured the requirements of the statute
* Took action with respect to the expert review panel process that was contrary to the balanced panel composition envisioned by Congress
* Intervened to release an assessment review document without the permission of the entity that contracted for its development
* Intervened to influence a state’s selection of reading programs and
* Intervened to influence reading programs being used by local education agencies after the application process was complete.

Alan Farstrup, executive director of the International Reading Association, said, “In the wake of these damaging revelations, we must not lose sight of the needs Reading First addresses.” Recently, US ED released a report: “Reading First Implementation Evaluation: Interim Report,” which indicates that the program is having a positive impact with many states and localities. In addition, the independent Center for Education Policy report, “Keeping Watch on Reading First,” concluded that many states have found that Reading First funding has been critical to their progress.

Farstrup added that it will be important for the Department of Education to review what they have done wrong and change their procedures, to rectify damage done, and for Congress to continue to provide the resources needed to help schools close the achievement gap.