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Blaschke on Federal Funding

Reading First Developments

April 15, 2008—During March, a number of Reading First developments occurred. At a meeting with state Reading First directors, Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings indicated that USED would provide some flexibility to help SEAs and districts cope with the 60 percent Reading First budget cut next year. Draft guidance reminds Reading First districts that the major requirements of Reading First still need to be complied with and that states should consider reallocating Reading First funds from schools that are not making “sufficient progress.” This would have the effect, almost by definition, of increasing the Reading First achievement gains in the remaining Reading First schools in a district. The draft guidance also states “subject to the specific rules or regulations of the program, funds that LEAs receive under Title I Part A may be used to support elements of the Reading First program.”

In school-wide programs, Title I funds could be used to purchase core programs, provide screening and diagnostic assessments or reading coaches and other professional development; however, in targeted assistance schools, Title I funds could not be used to purchase the core reading program, but rather only supplemental materials. Other potential funds which could be used to make up the Reading First shortfall would include Title IIA to provide professional development, Title III to provide reading interventions for English language learners, and the 50 percent transferability provision that allows transfer of other program funds into most Reading First programs.

Several days after the Reading First directors meeting, the Fordham Institute released its report which blamed Congress for not defining scientifically-based research which left too much discretion to USED officials culminating in the Office of Inspector General audits which found serious violations of conflict of interest and other mismanagement activities during the early implementation of the program. On numerous occasions, Secretary Spellings has called for a restoration of Reading First funds by Congress, where ranking Republican Rep. Mike Castle (Del.) is spearheading an effort within the House to restore such funding. The “Dear Colleague” letter cites numerous activities that have been undertaken by Spellings to implement recommendations of the Office of Inspector General to minimize future conflict of interest and mismanagement problems. Committee Chairman Dave Obey(D-Wis.), who instituted the Reading First cut for FY 2008, is likely to use Reading First as a negotiating “pawn” in the FY 2009 appropriations negotiations with the White House.

Questions, ideas, or in need of more information? Please contact Stacey Pusey at 302-295-8349.

Click here for a copy of the MCREL research synthesis. A User-Friendly Guide is also available.