The Ogden, Utah schools have used the mandates of the federal Reading First grant program to transform reading instruction and student achievement in low-performing schools. Reading First was approved by Congress in 2001 under the No Child Left Behind Act to bring scientifically based reading methods and materials to struggling schools. The $1 billion-a-year initiative has been plagued by controversy over how it was implemented by federal officials and consultants, including charges of interference in state and local decision-making and of favoritism toward certain reading programs. In this article, the author discusses the impact brought about by the Reading First program to Gramercy Elementary School and Dee Elementary School.