As part of the U.S. Department of Education's efforts to equip states with the information and resources they need to implement the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige recently hosted policymakers and key education leaders from every state and territory in the nation at three Reading Leadership Academies funded by the National Institute for Literacy.
The academies were designed to help state leaders gear up for the implementation of Reading First, a $900 million Department of Education program to improve the quality of reading instruction in kindergarten through third grade.
Susan B. Neuman, assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education, other Department of Education officials, and top researchers from leading research institutions made presentations and led in-depth discussions with participants on teaching reading based on scientific research. The Secretary invited governors and chief state school officers in each state to send a team to Washington and suggested that the teams include policy advisors and elected or appointed officials who direct education policy and programs at the state level.
The goals of the academies were to help states:
The PowerPoint presentations from the Academies, along with speakers' notes, are offered below for educators looking for an overview of these key topics. Educators and policy makers are invited to use and adapt these presentations in their own work.
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