ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline Volume 7, Number 143 November 18, 1998 In this issue: [1] READING EXCELLENCE ACT SIGNED INTO LAW; THANKS TO AASL, ALSC, SENATE [2] READING EXCELLENCE ACT SUMMARY [1] READING EXCELLENCE ACT SIGNED INTO LAW; THANKS TO AASL, ALSC, SENATE The Reading Excellence Act -- the Administration's children's literacy initiative -- was passed and signed into law as part of the major omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 4328, PL 105-277). The Reading Excellence Act legislation is authorized through fiscal year 2000, and the authorization level for both years is set at $260 million. The purpose of The Reading Excellence Act, which amends Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, is to: 1) provide children with the readiness skills they need to learn to read once they enter school; 2) to teach every child to read, no later than the third grade; 3) to improve the reading skills of students and the instructional practices for current teachers who teach reading; 4) to expand the number of high-quality family literacy programs, and 5) to provide early literacy intervention to children experiencing reading difficulties. School library media specialists are included in the definition of instructional staff. In addition, there are partnership opportunities for public libraries. The ALA Washington Office is grateful for the advice and help from members of the American Association of School Librarians and the Association for Library Service for Children who provided valuable input during the two years this legislation was in process. We are also thankful for the support of various Senate Committee staff, particularly staff for Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), and for House committee staff support in the closing days of the session. A summary of state grants, local grants, and use of funds follows. For more information, see the U.S. Department of Education Web site at http://www.ed.gov/inits/americareads/re.html or call 1- 800-USA-LEARN. [2] READING EXCELLENCE ACT SUMMARY STATE GRANTS Grants will be provided to individual states by the Secretary of Education with the advice of a panel of experts. In its grant application, a state educational agency must describe how it will "promote reading and library programs that provide access to engaging reading material." Grants to states will be no less than $500,000. Each state is charged to develop reading and literacy partnerships, and among optional partners are listed a school library or a public library that offers reading or literacy programs for children or families. LOCAL GRANTS States will make subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) on a competitive basis to schools identified for school improvement and which have the highest child poverty rate compared to other local educational agencies in the State. The LEA's application must also describe how it will promote reading and library programs that provide access to engaging reading material. The LEA is required to develop a partnership with one or more community-based organizations of demonstrated effectiveness in early childhood literacy and reading readiness, reading instruction and reading achievement for both adults and children such as "a Head Start program, family literacy program, public library, or adult education program." USE OF FUNDS Funds can be used by the LEA to secure technical and other assistance for a program of reading instruction based on scientifically based reading research; a person or entity with experience or expertise about such program and its implementation or a program providing family literacy services. Funds can also be used to provide professional development activities to teachers and other instructional staff; to purchase curricular and other supporting materials; to promote reading and library programs that provide access to engaging reading material; to train parents on how to help their children with school work, particularly in the development of reading skills; to provide family literacy services, and instruction for children with reading difficulties. Funds are also provided for a national evaluation of the programs; funds are also reserved for the National Institute for Literacy to disseminate information on scientifically based reading research. ****** ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. To subscribe to ALAWON, send the message: subscribe ala-wo [your_firstname] [your_lastname] to listproc@ala.org or go to http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. To unsubscribe to ALAWON, send the message: unsubscribe ala-wo to listproc@ala.org or go to http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. ALAWON archives at http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon. ALA Washington Office, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Suite 403, Washington, D.C. 20004-1701; phone: 202.628.8410 or 800.941.8478 toll-free; fax: 202.628.8419; e-mail: alawash@alawash.org; Web site: http://www.ala.org/washoff. Editor: Lynne E. Bradley; Managing Editor: Deirdre Herman; Contributors: Mary Costabile, Adam Eisgrau, Anne Heanue, Carol Henderson, Peter Kaplan, Claudette Tennant and Rick Weingarten.