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U.S. to give state $300-million for reading program
By ALISA ULFERTS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published June 26, 2002
TALLAHASSEE -- Florida will receive $300-million over the next six years in federal reading grants, education officials announced Tuesday.
The state gets the first $45-million next month. The rest of the money will arrive over the next few years, assuming Florida can demonstrate that kids are learning to read under its program. The grants are part of President Bush's Reading First initiative.
"This grant recognizes Florida as a model for the nation because of our distinguished efforts to ensure that every child read at or above grade level by 2012," Gov. Jeb Bush said in a statement.
That's not a simple task: Forty-seven percent of elementary students can't read at grade level. The numbers are even worse for middle and high school.
It also is not cheap: When he announced his Just Read, Florida program earlier this year, Bush said he planned to spend roughly $48-million in federal money plus about $50-million or more in state dollars.
The purpose of the program is to train teachers in reading instruction that research shows works. Critics say the methods Bush favors are simplistic and ignore creative approaches in favor of teaching styles that are more easily measured with standardized tests.
But U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige defended the instruction methods the federal government is supporting.
"The program's focus on scientific evidence, including the essential element of proven reading instruction, constitutes a recipe for success," Paige said.
Florida, Alabama and Colorado will receive the first grants available under the presidential initiative.
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