Governor George E. Pataki today announced that nearly $130 million in funding has been secured from the U.S. Department of Education through the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The funds will be used for New York's "Reading First" program and will be provided to schools across the State to assist efforts to improve early literacy in grades K-3, as well as related professional development in high-need districts.

"We are committed to helping every child in New York develop the strong reading skills they need to secure a first class education and a bright future,"Governor Pataki said. "Reading is the foundation of all learning and this vital support will help parents, teachers and local communities break down the barriers to literacy for young children throughout New York."

U.S. Department of Education Secretary Rod Paige said, "President Bush believes that we can give every child the reading skills they need. That's why his No Child Left Behind Act makes our nation's greatest-ever commitment to reading instruction for every child. By designing instruction around scientific evidence, New York and other states will help ensure that all children learn to read by the end of the third grade."

Brian Jones, General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Education said, "Reading is undeniably critical to success in today's society. The results of the most recent national test show that just one-third of children in fourth, eighth and twelfth grades are proficient readers. This is unacceptable to anyone concerned about the future of our nation."

Under the "Reading First" grant, 118 school districts and at least 17 charter schools are eligible for funding under State criteria. Eligible schools include those identified as "School Improvement" schools under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, schools with the highest number of children in poverty, and schools with the highest rate of poverty. These funds will provide the highest needs and lowest performing districts with almost $500 million over the next six years to implement successful programs and make certain that New York's most disadvantaged students have every opportunity to meet education standards.

The "Reading First" grant announced today by the Governor will build on the successful development of model K-3 literacy programs and teacher training programs under the "Reading First, Reading for Results program."

Both "Reading First" and "Reading for Results" are products of the Governor's Statewide Reading and Literacy Partnership, which was formed in 1999 to support early literacy efforts. "Reading First" programs will build on the success of "Reading for Results" efforts to create a comprehensive early literacy effort focused on high-need, low-performing students in grades k-3 and will work in concert with the State's higher learning standards.

Over the next six years, New York is eligible to receive a total of more than $460 million in federal Reading First funds under the No Child Left Behind Act. The funds will support literacy efforts, subject to successful state implementation and Congressional appropriation.

Excerpt From: Governor George E. Pataki Press Release, September 2003