The Institute for Educational Sciences has released an interim report on the impact of the Reading First program which provides assistance to states and districts in using research-based reading programs and instructional materials in order to increase the number of students that read at or above grade level by the end of third grade.

Using 18 study sites, the report found that Reading First did not significantly impact student reading comprehension test scores in first through third grade. However, the Michigan Reading First program shows positive results. In 2002, when Michigan received the first Reading First grant, the average reading proficiency of recipient schools was 19%. As of 2007, the average reading proficiency of recipient schools increased to 36%. Mark Coscarella , Michigan Department of Education Reading First

Manager, explained that Michigan Reading First facilitators have a five-to-one case load while many states provide one facilitator for as many as 30 schools.

Also, MDE’s Jan Ellis explained that the Institute measures improvement differently from the state. As opposed to studying a two-year period, Michigan studies evaluate the program over a longer period of time. The current federal budget proposal would cut 61% from the Reading First grant program, which amounts to a decrease of about $18 million for Michigan . The funding cut would decrease the number of Michigan schools receiving Reading First grants from 158 to approximately 100.

Source: MDE, Office of School Improvement