State and local officials credit Reading First for gains, says new report

 Despite the scandals involving Reading First at the national level, a new report from the Center on Education Policy (CEP) finds that the program is being implemented as intended, and it is widely credited by state and local officials for lifting achievement of students who receive Reading First services.

According to the report, Reading First: Locally Appreciated, Nationally Troubled, more than three-fourths of states and more than two-thirds of districts with Reading First grants reported that the program's assessment and instructional programs were important causes of gains in student achievement. The report calls on Congress to increase current levels of funding for Reading First. It also calls for measures to ensure no future mismanagement of Reading First funds.

For further information about the report, visit the CEP website.