Iowa Reading Excellence Program
Overview
Iowa Reading Excellence Program was a statewide initiative that was funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The grant program concentrated in high poverty school districts with the purpose of promoting and accelerating student achievement in reading, and particularly aimed at increasing the percentage of students at proficient (independent) reading levels by the end of the third grade.
This initiative was accomplished through participation in quality professional development, the provision of extended learning opportunities for children, quality family literacy services, transition programs for kindergarten children, tutorial assistance, coordination of services, and integration of effort at the school and community levels, reading and literacy partnerships, as well as the application of scientifically based reading research.
Participants
31 elementary schools within 10 school districts were participating in a four-year longitudinal study that began in 2000. Thus far, the program has impacted about 1400 students (kindergarten to fifth grades), and over 600 teachers.
