Texas Reading First - Grant Update

The Texas Reading First Initiative(TRFI) has launched a $39 million competitive grant program searching for Cycle 2 Year 1, 2004-2005, its second group of districts/charter schools to implement scientifically based reading researched programs and instruction that will improve reading skills for students in kindergarten through third grade. About 248 local educational agencies (LEAs) are eligible to compete to be in the Cycle2 Year 1, 2004-2005. Selections will be announced August 3,2004.In 2003-2004 grant competition, 121 were funded out of 366 eligible local education agencies. Specifically 514 campuses served 126,467K-3 students who were identified as struggling with reading difficulties,including dyslexia .A cadre of about 40 Regional Technical Assistance Specialists located throughout the state supported funded LEAs by mentoring local campus coaches in successful implementation of their Reading First plans.The Cycle 1 Year 1 Cohort, 2003-2004 will have the opportunity to become the Cycle 1 Year 2 Cohort, 2003-2004 byre-applying for funding through a continuation grant application process that will be posted soon. Applicants who meet the criteria for continuation will receive a second year of full funding (100%) amounts to approximately$63,205,730.Texas Reading First provides an opportunity for every eligible district to help all students achieve reading mastery by the end of the third grade. Reading First focuses on improving student achievement for all students, especially children in the nation’s most disadvantaged schools and communities. The Texas Reading First Initiative grant will strengthen the Texas Reading initiative which already employs an infrastructure to link the state’s business community, policymakers, state educational professionals,university-based research partners, and regional technical assistance providers together.

The Division of Curriculum—Statewide Initiatives coordinate the Texas Reading First Initiative. Partners within the TRFI infrastructure include: University of Texas Center for Reading and Language Arts (UTCRLA); University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston Center for Academic Reading and Skills (CARS);University of Houston Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation and Statistics (TIMES); and University of Texas Systems (UTS).

Additional Resources: