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The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has announced the awarding of nearly $102 million in Early Reading First grants to 32 recipients in 25 states to improve the language and early literacy skills of young children. For more information on the FY 2006 Early Reading First grant slate visit http://www.ed.gov/programs/earlyreading/2006erfslate.doc.
Early Reading First is designed to transform existing early education programs into centers of excellence that provide high-quality, early education to young children, especially those from low-income families. The overall purpose of the Early Reading First Program is to prepare young children to enter kindergarten with the necessary language, cognitive, and early reading skills to prevent reading difficulties and ensure school success. These grant funds are used to improve the use of instructional materials and teaching strategies through scientifically proven practices. These grants complement the Reading First State Grants Program, which provides support for high-quality, scientifically based classroom-focused reading instruction for kindergarten through Grade 3.
For more information on the Early Reading First program, please visit http://www.ed.gov/programs/earlyreading/index.html or contact Catherine D. Clarke, ASHA's Director of Education and Regulatory Advocacy, via e-mail at cclarke@asha.org or by phone at 800-498-2071, ext. 4159.
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