Reading is typically considered a survival skill in our technology- and literacy-bound culture. Individuals who struggle with learning to read are at significantly elevated risk for a number of negative outcomes, including school failure, under- and unemployment, and special education placement. Thus, those who do not learn to read fluently will…

This paper discusses a new approach to quality education and accountability in personnel performance and pupil progress in reading which has been initiated in the Title I elementary schools of the District of Columbia. This concept, known as competitive partnership, is an instructional program in which major publishing companies compete with each…

Criteria representative of an exemplary reading program and defining the components and levels of school accountability for the Michigan Right to Read program are presented in this paper. Several components, including administration and organization, students/learners, needs assessment, delivery system/curriculum, delivery system/resources,…

The public is deeply concerned that students in urban settings are not achieving at high levels. Over the past twenty years, large urban districts have attempted to restructure massive school systems using educational policymaking processes that have focused on school structures, standards-driven curriculum, and test-based accountability measures.…

The language in recent education policy equates academic achievement with reading proficiency for English language learners (ELLs). In response to federal and state accountability efforts focused on reading, California high schools began to substitute reading intervention programs for English language development (ELD) curricula and instruction.…

This report evaluates the effectiveness of a reading program known as "The Reading Renaissance/Accelerated Reader Program" as implemented at Gardner Middle School in San Manuel, Arizona, during the period of April 1997 to April 1998. Before the program was implemented, students were achieving at a low level in reading. Students in the…

This booklet is designed to provide guidelines for testing in reading and suggestions for using the test results in ways which will most benefit the student. Ten canons are presented which are intended to serve as guidelines for program-related assessment within a framework of instructional decision making. They are concerned primarily with the…

This report evaluates the Grand Rapids Public School (GRPS) experience with performance contracting. The report describes the first two years of the GRPS performance contracting experience, assesses the accomplishments of those two years, and describes the third year (1972-73) program. The author concludes that the contracts were successful and…

This paper discusses some educational developments which have either surfaced or been revived during the past decade or so and which may contribute to or influence the teaching of reading. The developments discussed include: accountability and performance contracting; the use of more adults (parents, paraprofessionals, and college students) in the…