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

FOR RELEASE
July 26, 1999

Contact:
Julie Green
John Emekli
(202) 401-3026

Riley Unveils New Tools To Improve Student Reading

U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley today released two new tools for raising student reading achievement. Addressing a national conference of more than 150 reading organizations, Riley called on parents, grandparents, schools and communities, including reading and child care experts, to redouble their efforts, especially in the nation's poorest communities, to bring about a significant breakthrough in reading.

"Even though our nation's reading scores are finally going up, we still have millions of young people who are struggling to master the basics," Riley said. "Parents, grandparents, teachers and communities all have a role to play in making sure all children learn to read well. We must work together to give children the individual attention and support they need to master reading early so that they can then succeed in school and beyond."

The first report Riley released, Start Early, Finish Strong, makes a compelling case that the U.S. is well-positioned to improve student reading performance. Guided by new research, the report outlines an extraordinary mobilization that is beginning at every level of American society: through the family, the child care center, the school, the community, and at the state and national level. The report provides action steps for parents and policymakers, child care practitioners and school personnel, citizens, colleges and businesses.

The second resource released by Riley, The Compact for Reading, is a tool kit for families and schools to work together to develop written agreements to improve student reading. Published with the support of The Los Angeles Times Reading by 9 campaign, the compact will raise reading achievement by fostering greater family, school, and community involvement, and provides teachers with 400 activities to link the family at home with the classroom curriculum.

During his remarks, Riley also announced the debut of Child Care READS, a groundbreaking new initiative inspired by the America Reads Challenge. A privately funded project, this organization works to introduce reading skills to child care providers of pre-kindergarten children. Child Care READS also promotes after-school and summer reading programs for school-aged children.

"Over the past several years, America Reads has made a real statement on what we value and care about as a nation," Riley said to the members of the President's Coalition for America Reads. "We must build on the momentum of the thousands of volunteers working to help children read and encourage even more parents and caregivers to get involved, more schools to strengthen reading instruction, and many more members of the community to volunteer as tutors and mentors."

Riley also decried recent congressional action to pass a sweeping tax cut which would mean devastating cuts in critical education programs, including reading. "I am astonished that some in Congress are proposing a massive tax cut that will cut deeply into our needed investments in education. At a time when this country is economically strong and moving in the right direction to improve literacy, we must not shortchange our children by turning our backs on providing them with critical resources. The Majority in Congress sends the wrong message to children and families across America when they seek tax cuts to benefit the wealthiest citizens yet fail to invest in reading, smaller classes, after school programs, safe and drug free schools, and help for our most disadvantaged students."

The President's Coalition for America Reads was formed in response to President Clinton's 1997 call for Americans from all walks of life to help children learn to read. A grassroots national campaign, its membership includes businesses, nonprofits, literacy groups, religious organizations, schools, colleges and others.

Through AmeriCorps, more than 2 million children have been tutored and mentored in reading, and through the Federal Work-Study program, students at more than 1,100 colleges and universities are earning financial aid by tutoring children in their neighborhoods.

Start Early Finish Strong, The Compact for Reading and other information about the America Reads Challenge and materials to improve child literacy skills are available free of charge on the Internet at www.ed.gov/ and www.ed.gov/inits/americareads/ or by calling 1-800-USA-LEARN.

###