The Michigan Department of Education presented its report on Reading First to the State Board of Education at its March 12, 2008, meeting. Reading First supports the establishment of research-based reading programs for students in kindergarten through third grade.

Michigan has received over $180 million over the last six years in federal funding for the targeted research-based program that focuses on learning to read and reading to learn. Currently 158 Michigan school districts participate in the Reading First program. The program focuses on school districts where there is a high percentage of poverty and low-reading skills.

According to the report, 51.2 percent of the Reading First schools showed progress in meeting both grade level expectations and decreasing numbers of high risk students in 2006-2007.

Just over 10 percent of the schools showed progress in meeting grade level expectations only and 9.3 percent in decreasing high risk students only.

Source: MIRS Capitol Capsule, 3.12.08