Colo. gets $9 mil for reading this year and could receive $59MM over six years.

Colorado
has been awarded a $9 million federal grant to help
young school children learn to read, U.S. Secretary of
Education Rod Paige announced today.

By The Associated Press

Paige said Colorado was among three states selected
to receive the first major grants under the Reading
First initiative of President Bush’s education reform
plan.

The grants are aimed at improving student reading
skills. They are to be used for improving classroom
reading instruction based on proven methods,
screening and diagnosing reading difficulties,
monitoring student progress and teacher development.

"The program’s focus on scientific evidence, including
the essential elements of proven reading instruction,
constitutes a recipe for success," Paige said in a
written statement. "We can now ensure that all
children will be given the tools and instruction they
need to read well by the end of the third grade."

Each state submitted a grant application and was
judged by a review panel on its plans to meet 25
criteria for the program.

Colorado will receive $9 million this year and could
receive $59 million over six years.

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E53%257E694747%257E,00.html