Reading First is a part of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Title I, Part B, Subpart 1). Reading First is designed to assist schools in establishing reading programs for students in kindergarten through grade 3. These programs must be founded on scientifically-based reading research and aid in ensuring every student can read well by the end of third grade.
Link to DPI Reading First Website and WI Reading First Grant Application
Reading First Initiative in Wisconsin
State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster has articulated a New Wisconsin Promise to ensure quality education for all Wisconsin children. Key strategic priorities of the New Wisconsin Promise that are consistent with Reading First include reading as a fundamental skill for all children, early learning opportunities, quality teachers in every classroom, and strong leadership in every school. Recognizing the critical importance of these key priorities in a child�s education, Wisconsin�s Reading First plan is designed to improve student reading achievement in grades K-3.
Implementation of this plan focuses on reading programs based on scientifically based reading research (SBRR); reliable and valid screening, diagnostic, progress monitoring and outcome assessments; high quality professional development to ensure that K-3 teachers and K-12 special education teachers develop the expertise to help students become successful readers; a sound evaluation design conducted by an experienced and highly qualified outside evaluator; and leadership that results in improvement in reading performance.
Findings from the National Reading Panel report indicate that effective instruction can help children become good readers. As envisioned by Wisconsin�s Reading First Leadership Team, our Reading First classroom will be a model classroom for meeting the needs of diverse groups of students. Classrooms will be staffed by highly qualified professional teachers who are well-versed in SBRR and able to share their expertise to best meet the needs of all children, regardless of the severity or complexity of their learning needs. Wisconsin�s Reading First Goals Statewide Impact Goal
To ensure that every Wisconsin student can read at grade level by the end of their third-grade year.
Objective 1: Each year narrow the achievement gap between the low income children and their peers in terms of percentage and number of low income students who score in the proficient and advanced levels as measured by TerraNova Reading and WI Reading Comprehension Test (WRCT).
Objective 2: Each year narrow the achievement gap between children of color and their peers in terms of percentage and number of children of color who score in the proficient and advanced levels as measured by TerraNova Reading and WRCT.
Objective 3: Each year narrow the achievement gap between Limited English Proficient (LEP) students and their peers in terms of percentage and number of LEP students who score in the proficient and advanced levels as measured by TerraNova Reading and WRCT.
Objective 4: Each year narrow the achievement gap between special education students and their peers in terms of percentage and number of special education students who score in the proficient and advanced levels as measured by TerraNova Reading and WRCT. irst Page 1WI Reading F 12 May 03