Sam Gibbons: “a child's success in school and, indeed, in life is dependent upon his or her ability to read. Unfortunately, reading…”

“a child's success in school and, indeed, in life is dependent upon his or her ability to read. Unfortunately, reading scores in most States have remained flat or even dropped over the last 8 years, and the reading achievement gap between white students and minority students has widened even further. These disappointing results are yet more evidence that simply spending more money on education does not necessarily improve student achievement. President Bush's Reading First Initiative gives States both the funds and the tools they need to eliminate the reading deficit. It focuses on effective proven methods of reading instruction based on proven scientific research. Research continues to show that reading failure has devastating effects on self-esteem, social development, and opportunities for advanced education and meaningful employment. By funding effective reading instruction programs, President Bush's plan, H.R. 1, ensures that more children will receive the help they need before they fall further behind.”