The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act significantly increases funding for two literacy initiatives – Reading First and Early Reading First – aimed at having all children achieve reading proficiency by the end of 3rd grade. Both are voluntary programs to help states and local education agencies utilize scientifically based reading research to improve reading instruction for young children.

Reading First, which replaces the Reading Excellence Act, is designed to help states, districts and communities identify and adopt scientifically based reading programs, and ensure all classroom teachers (kindergarten through 3rd grade) can identify children at risk of reading failure and provide effective early instruction. Early Reading First is designed to promote reading readiness in preschool-age children, before they enter K-3 classrooms.

The link(s) above show what is currently available in this section of the NCLB Issue Site.

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