New York,
NY (November
10,
2005) --
Scholastic Building Language for Literacy™, an early childhood program from Scholastic Education, a leading provider of research-based print and technology solutions proven to raise reading achievement for students in grades Pre-K and above, has been selected by four recipients of the U.S. Department of Education 2005 Early Reading First Grant. Denver Public Schools in Colorado, Catholic Charities, Inc. in Hartford, Connecticut, NW Regional Education Laboratory in Portland, Oregon, and Clayton County Public Schools in Georgia will use the program as part of their larger efforts to help prepare young, disadvantaged children to enter school ready to learn.
Based on research from the National Reading Panel and developed by Catherine E. Snow, Ph.D., and Susan B. Neuman, Ed.D, Building Language for Literacy expands children’s awareness of themselves and their community by using real-world places as the subject matter while teaching early literacy skills, such as oral language, phonological awareness, letter knowledge, and print knowledge. In addition, it provides built-in teacher professional development, ongoing assessment, and ESL strategies. Independent research has examined the impact of Building Language for Literacy on the early literacy skills of young children in a variety of urban and rural preschool settings, including Head Start, Even Start, and private child care centers. Research has demonstrated a consistent trend of significantly increased receptive vocabulary and letter recognition skills for at-risk preschoolers receiving Building Language for Literacy, including Spanish speaking children.
“Early Reading First funding is a vital tool that provides young at-risk students with access to high-quality instructional programs,” said Francie Alexander, Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, Scholastic. “Building Language for Literacy is proven to help young children develop oral language and early literacy skills, and Scholastic is pleased that four of this year’s grant recipients have chosen the program to improve their early childhood instruction. ”
The Early Reading First program (ERF), authorized by the No Child Left Behind Act, is designed to transform existing early education programs into centers of excellence that provide high-quality, early education to young children, especially those from low-income families. The program helps to prepare young children to enter kindergarten with the necessary language, cognitive, and early reading skills to prevent reading difficulties and ensure school success.
About Scholastic
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film, videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries and television networks; and the Company's Internet site,
www.scholastic.com.