This document is the Virginia Board of Education's "Reading First" application. Funding of this grant request will provide the commonwealth the capacity to award local educational agencies sixty to seventy- five school level subgrants that are based on model classroom and professional development criteria. The document contains 2 appendixes: (1) Models/Programs that Include Instructional Methods that have Proven to be Successful with Low Achieving Students; and (2) Effective Elementary Reading Programs Assessment and Planning Instrument; and Assessment Instrument for Planning Effective Professional Development in Reading.