A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

The Reading Excellence Act

"We must do more...to make sure every child can read well by the end of the third grade."

 -- President Bill Clinton, State of the Union Address, 1997

N early two years ago, President Clinton issued a challenge to every American to help all children become good readers. All Americans should celebrate that Congress included the Reading Excellence Act (REA) in the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999 signed by the President on October 21, 1998. More than 500,000 pre-kindergarten through third-grade children will be served in the next year through the $260 million appropriated for FY 1999 [1]. The Reading Excellence Act has been authorized for the next two years, allowing even more at-risk children to receive the support they need to improve their literacy skills.

Unfortunately, too many children fail to read at grade level. In 1994, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, 40 percent of our nation's fourth graders failed to read at the basic level. Sixty-nine percent of African American and 64 percent of Hispanic American fourth graders read below the basic level.

We know that to succeed in school, be prepared for more advanced courses and college, and participate in the high-skill workplace of the 21st century, all students need good reading skills. The Reading Excellence Act targets the children who are most in need of additional assistance at the most critical period, the primary grades. Research shows that students who are behind in reading can catch up to grade level with additional reading instruction.

Purpose

The Reading Excellence Act amends Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 by adding a reading component to:

  • provide children with the readiness skills and support they need in early childhood to learn to read once they enter school;

  • teach every child to read by the end of the third grade; and

  • improve the instructional practices of teachers and other instructional staff in elementary schools.

This Act will support three key activities: (1) professional development; (2) out-of-school tutoring; and (3) family literacy.

How the Reading Excellence Act Works

Under the Act, the Secretary of Education is authorized to make competitive grants to State Educational Agencies (SEAs). All States are eligible to apply.

  • A state that wishes to participate must establish a reading and literacy partnership with the Governor, chief state school officer, the chair and ranking minority member of committees in the state legislature responsible for education policy, and representatives of: local districts eligible to receive subgrants under this program, community-based organizations, state directors of federal programs supporting reading instruction, parents, teachers, and family literacy service providers, plus a variety of optional participants. Similar pre-existing partnerships may be substituted to meet this requirement if the state so chooses.

  • SEAs that receive funding are required to make subgrants on a competitive basis to:

    • local school districts that have at least one school in Title I school improvement status;

    • districts with the highest or second highest percentages of poverty in the State; or

    • districts with the highest or second highest number of poor children in the State.

  • SEAs must use at least 85 percent of their awards to make local reading improvement grants to school districts to:

    • provide professional development for teachers based on the best research and practice;

    • operate tutoring programs after school, before school, during non-instructional periods during the school day, on weekends, and during the summer; and

    • provide family literacy services by forming partnerships with community-based organizations, early childhood organizations, adult education programs, family literacy organizations, public libraries, colleges and universities, and other organizations to improve the teaching of reading and the reading achievement of children and their families.

  • Grant periods to States are for three years. State grants to districts must be sufficient to support two-year projects. Grants will be awarded to States after July 1, 1999.

  • Each State may use up to five percent of its funding for State-level administrative activities such as technical assistance to local partnerships, program evaluation (up to two percent), and coordination with other literacy-related activities.

Tutorial Assistance Grants

States must make at least one tutorial assistance grant to school districts most in need of help. (Local districts with one school in an empowerment zone or enterprise community, districts with at least one school in school improvement, districts with the highest or second highest percentages of child poverty in the State, and districts with the highest or second highest numbers of children in poverty in the State are eligible.) These grants will be awarded to school districts to allow them to provide a number of after-school tutoring options (both school-based and non-school-based) for children in need of additional reading assistance.

Evaluation

The Reading Excellence Act also provides for two levels of evaluation - a national evaluation by the Secretary funded with 1.5 percent of the total dollars appropriated for the Act ($3.9 million for the current fiscal year), and a State-level evaluation for which each State may reserve up to 2 percent of the amount it receives under the Act (which is part of the five percent a State may reserve for administrative costs).

National Institute for Literacy and Even Start

The National Institute for Literacy will receive $5 million to distribute information on the best reading research and practices. And $10 million will go to the Even Start program for grants to States to implement Statewide family literacy initiatives.

If you have questions or comments, please call Kristin Bunce (202-401-8888) or Joseph Conaty (202-401-0113) or visit our website at www.ed.gov/inits/americareads/.


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Footnote

  1. $260 million is the total amount appropriated for the Reading Excellence Act for FY99. This includes $10 million for Even Start, $3.9 million for national evaluation, and $5 million for National Institute for Literacy dissemination. Therefore, $241.1 million supports REA grants to States. [Return to text]

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Last Updated -- December 11, 1998, (BDG)