No Child Left Behind - Title I-B2: Early Reading First
What is Early Reading First?
Early Reading First is a new program supporting early childhood education. Early Reading First:
• Requires programs to use scientifically based research to teach children cognitive and language
skills
• Emphasizes the cognitive and language domains
• Evaluates the effectiveness of local programs through annual performance reports on their
evaluation results
• Evaluates the effectiveness of the program through an independent national evaluation
What elements are required for a scientifically based reading program?
• Research has shown that the five essential components of effective reading instruction are:
→ Phonemic Awareness
→ Phonics
→ Vocabulary
→ Reading Fluency
→ Reading Comprehension
How is Early Reading First funding distributed?
• Early Reading First funds are distributed by the US Department of Education through a competitive
grant process to local school districts eligible for the Reading First program, other public or private
organizations within those eligible districts, or collaborations between both.
• These organizations will apply for awards on behalf of one or more preschool programs for the
purpose of strengthening the literacy components of existing early childhood centers.
How can schools and organizations use Early Reading First funding?
Early Reading First programs must conduct the following activities that have been shown to be
effective in developing the language, cognitive, and early reading skills of young children:
• Provide high-quality oral language and literacy-rich classroom environments
• Provide professional development to staff that is based on research knowledge of early language
and reading development
• Identify and provide activities and instructional materials based on research to develop children’s
language, cognitive, and early reading skills,
• Use screening assessments or other appropriate measures to determine whether young children
are developing the cognitive skills they need for later reading success
• Integrate these materials, activities, tools, and measures into preschool programs
Early Reading First is a new program supporting early childhood education. Early Reading First:
• Requires programs to use scientifically based research to teach children cognitive and language
skills
• Emphasizes the cognitive and language domains
• Evaluates the effectiveness of local programs through annual performance reports on their
evaluation results
• Evaluates the effectiveness of the program through an independent national evaluation
What elements are required for a scientifically based reading program?
• Research has shown that the five essential components of effective reading instruction are:
→ Phonemic Awareness
→ Phonics
→ Vocabulary
→ Reading Fluency
→ Reading Comprehension
How is Early Reading First funding distributed?
• Early Reading First funds are distributed by the US Department of Education through a competitive
grant process to local school districts eligible for the Reading First program, other public or private
organizations within those eligible districts, or collaborations between both.
• These organizations will apply for awards on behalf of one or more preschool programs for the
purpose of strengthening the literacy components of existing early childhood centers.
How can schools and organizations use Early Reading First funding?
Early Reading First programs must conduct the following activities that have been shown to be
effective in developing the language, cognitive, and early reading skills of young children:
• Provide high-quality oral language and literacy-rich classroom environments
• Provide professional development to staff that is based on research knowledge of early language
and reading development
• Identify and provide activities and instructional materials based on research to develop children’s
language, cognitive, and early reading skills,
• Use screening assessments or other appropriate measures to determine whether young children
are developing the cognitive skills they need for later reading success
• Integrate these materials, activities, tools, and measures into preschool programs
