what eles is new.... we should be used to this by now. just like the speach on fuel economy yesterday. all you have to do is see WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR that says it all

Extreme greed is a sickness and the entire repub party is stricken by it.
Abolish white collar prisons which are a form of affirmative action. Let's see these guys survive a real prison.

I don't understand why the liberals are so upset. The plan, as reported here, did exactly what it was set up to do, following in the footsteps of so many other great Republican inititive, showing that they not the liberal terror favoring Democrats know the way to make our wonderful Democracy show true profit.

Ask the children that use the program if there reading comprehension is better! The problem is we are sending Billions of dollars overseas for a bogus war!

It just gets better and better, doesn't it? Who woulda thunk it? A Rep. gets rich off a program that the gov't just happens to buy now! Nope, nothing smelly here? From miltary contracts to education programs, it's just one buck after another for their own pockets!It's just like mom used to say: "It's not honest hard work, but rather to whom and how much you contribute that leads you to success in this world!"

I am the parent of a child that attends a school using Reading First. It is such a shame that a program that was touted to solve all of our school's reading problems is nothing more than a program developed by corrupt educators, businessmen and politicians. I for one don't know how much this program is helping our children. I don't believe this program is best for every child. The best part of the Reading First Program is that there are lots of data provided on each child. As far as any other benefits, I have seen any. Of course many schools jumped on the Reading First band wagon because of NCLB (which in itself is another mess)! Politicians are not educators and need to remember that and stick to politics!

Of all the low down dirty deeds, the ones where children suffer the consequences are the worst.

What a one-sided report. Brian Ross should report the two studies that have been completed which indicate that Reading First is working! Children are learning to read validated by two scientific studies. Obviously ABC missed that point or the notes above would not be so negative.

For every "study" showing that Reading First works, there are two showing that other reading programs are better. Sure, it provides loads of data, but so what? What does it measure? Teachers who use Reading First spend so much time gathering data, they don't have enough time for reading. For example, there is little or no time for teachers to just read stories to the class. Years ago, reading was an exciting part of the day. Now, it's a drudge designed around methods of data gathering and racking up points. Like every other person who had a hand in developing NCLB, the people who designed Reading First are removed from the classroom and/or have NO experience teaching children. They have no business telling experienced teacher what to do.

Oh, by the way, those "scientific" studies leave out data showing that Reading First is not as effective as many other less lucrative programs. Those studies cherry picked the data to show a very biased point of view.

I would urge people to visit schools that use Scientifically Based programs. In many instances those schools that receive Reading First funds are now exceeding the performance of the more affluent schools in the district. This is a direct result of using effective programs. Politics aside, these programs work... and this is coming from a Democrat, who is in the schools.

I taught third grade for 18 years and it didn't take long to figure out our country's educational system is managed by book publishers. Ten years ago, I took an old fashioned reading process and updated it for students who easily fall behind. . . the ones who don't qualify for special services. It works and it is practically free however it's not Scientifically Based nor Nationally Researched. But then those colorful grade level, beautifully packed boxes didn't produce the readers we need to move toward academic achievement. How many ways can publishers take the same data and sell it again at a huge profit? If anyone is listening, a reading revival for the average third or fourth grade child is possible without a slim chance of kick back or scam. Closing the grade school literacy gap CAN be achieved by complementing curriculum. But how to get the attention of anyone without dollar signs in their eyes is beyond me.

Insulting to taxpayers and voters that this subject receives such profound coverage. This little Reading Program, when compared to the Federal rip-off that is the Family Law and Child Support Collection Industries, is a speck yet the voting cattle continue to pay, and pay, and pay into the destruction of America....I Pay Child Support AND....I VOTE!

I am a teacher, and I recently did a policy report on RF. While some studies show gains under the program, the RF has an extremely low credibility with students who do not speak english as their first language. Since the RF program is directed at the most high-need areas, it is somewhat ironic that it has not been shown to be helpful with the bilingual student population, a large and growing percentage of the nation's high-need students. (The data is in the Center on Educational Policy report titled Keeping Watch on Reading First)

whatever ....Bush must go!

It's a fact of life: it's not what you knows that matters; it's who you know.

My 1st and 3rd grade childrena are reading at 3rd and 6th grade levels, respectively, not because of reading programs, but because of parenting.

(America is the dessert; the note is the King James Holy Bible)

Just imagine being in a dessert and seeing a mirage, but when you get closer, you see an old shack. Inside the shack there is a well with a pump. There is also a jug full of water with a note on it. The note says “Pour the water in the pump to prime the pump so that the water will come, don’t forget to refill the jug for the next person who comes along”. Now you say to yourself, “If I drink the jug of water, my thirst will be quenched, but I’ll probably die in this dessert. But if I pour the water in the pump I’ll have water for days.” Because there is no way this water would be near this pump in the middle of the dessert. Keep your eye on the note, not the jug of water, the pump or the well, because the note have the Grace of GOD, the wisdom of GOD and principle of GOD.
PS. My Daughter in the Grade 3, FCAT Reading Score 2132 – Level 5
And FCAT Mathematics Score 1971 – Level 5

And on it goes. The list of corruption,cronyism and dishonesty by this administration keeps growing day by day. Its just unbelievable!! Somebody should compile a list and make it public. So that the American people can easily see what has been going on.

Those of you who keep using the term "scientific" in reference to Reading First studies have no idea how a scientifically based study should be constructed or conducted; otherwise you would know there is nothing scientific about RF.