Special Reading Initiatives
The US Department of Education sponsors national reading initiatives to promote reading and literacy with programs designed and supported by the federal government, in addition to programs designed by nonprofit organizations and supported through federal funds. All federal funds are distributed to individual state education agencies, local education agencies, or nonprofit organizations rather than shared directly with individual schools or as part of a comprehensive national reading program.
Under the 2001 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the No Child Left Behind Act supported the “Reading First” initiative, which provided formula grants to states for evidence-based reading interventions for students in kindergarten through Grade 3. By 2007, states had awarded subgrants to 1,809 local education agencies, which provided funds to 5,880 schools.75 Under the 2015 reauthorization of ESEA, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) replaced Reading First with the Literacy Education for All, Results for the Nation (LEARN) program. Once implemented, LEARN will provide competitive grants to state education agencies for the dissemination of subgrants to eligible entities.76 LEARN is intended to improve student literacy achievement through a focus on evidence-based approaches from birth through Grade 12. Grant recipients will be required to develop comprehensive literacy plans in conjunction with state literacy teams, and if applicable, early childhood education providers. The program also funds innovative approaches to literacy through competitive grants for developing or enhancing school library programs, providing early literacy services, and supplying high quality books to students in low income communities.
Nonprofit organizations in the United States also implement initiatives for the enhancement of literacy education. Reading is Fundamental, the United States’ largest literacy organization, provides free books and other literacy resources. “Reading Rockets,” established with funding from the US Department of Education, is a national multimedia literacy initiative that shares evidenced-based findings on teaching reading and supporting children’s literacy growth. Projects include research on best practices in reading education, Public Broadcasting Service television programs, the dissemination of evidence‑based research to support teaching reading, professional development opportunities, and social media communities.77