SIOUX FALLS, S.D.--The state of South Dakota will receive $2.2 million in federal reading grant funds to help schools and districts improve children's reading achievement through scientifically proven methods of instruction, Secretary of Education Rod Paige announced today.

In total, over six years, South Dakota is set to receive approximately $14.5 million in Reading First funds, subject to the state's successful implementation and congressional appropriations.

On behalf of Secretary Paige, Pat Chlouber, the secretary's regional representative joined South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds and state Education Secretary Rick Melmer for a visit to Laura B. Anderson Elementary School in Sioux Falls.

The Reading First program is the centerpiece of President Bush's sweeping education reform law, the No Child Left Behind Act. Studies show that when children fail to learn how to read during their early school years, every aspect of school success is affected. Academic achievement can be enhanced through early diagnosis.

"Reading is critical to success in today's society," Chlouber said. "The key to helping all children learn is to help teachers in every classroom benefit from the relevant research.

"President Bush believes that we can and must give every child the reading skills they need. That's why the No Child Left Behind Act makes our nation's greatest-ever commitment to reading instruction for every child.

""By designing instruction around methods that have been proven to work, South Dakota and other states will help ensure that all children learn to read by the end of the third grade, which we know is the most critical time to acquire these skills."

"South Dakota's application passed a rigorous review panel that judged the state's plan against 25 review criteria. The grant will support key improvements in classroom reading instruction, including teaching based on research that shows what works, identifying reading difficulties early and providing help, monitoring student progress and continuing high-quality professional development for teachers.

"South Dakota plans to give the bulk of the funds to schools in eligible districts in February 2004. The state will closely monitor the progress of schools and districts participating in Reading First and will conduct an ongoing evaluation of its program.

"The Reading First program reflects President Bush's emphasis on the importance of reading. It was designed around an extensive knowledge base of the essential skills children must have to learn to read. The program reflects the findings of a congressionally mandated extensive review of scientifically based research on how students learn to read, completed by the National Reading Panel in 2000.

"Reading First was passed into law by a bipartisan majority of Congress under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and centers on the following priorities:

• Raising the caliber and quality of classroom instruction.
• Basing instruction on scientifically proven methods.
• Providing professional training for educators in reading instruction.
• Supplying substantial resources to support the unprecedented initiative.

"State applications undergo a rigorous review by a panel of reading experts, selected by the secretary of education, the National Institute for Literacy, the National Research Council and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Successful states receive funds under a formula.

"Paige has announced awards to Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

"A list of estimated state grants for FY 2002-2004 (under President Bush's budget request) is available at: : http://www.ed.gov/about/overview/budget/statetables/index.html

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"NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information about South Dakota's Reading First program, please contact Dr. Tammy Bauck, 605-773-6118.

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