From Striving to Struggling: The Proposed Elimination of Striving Readers and the Need to Reverse Course

Participants
Don Deshler, PhD, Director of the Center for Research on Learning, Kansas University School of Education
Phillip Lovell, Vice President of Federal Advocacy, Alliance for Excellent Education
Cindy Parker, Literacy Coordinator, Kentucky Department of Education

Strong literacy skills are essential for a productive career in both school and in the workforce. Millions of American students struggle to read and write at grade level and many more cannot read and understand complex texts. Unfortunately, Congress is eliminating funding for the new comprehensive Striving Readers program. Revised in 2010, the new comprehensive Striving Readers program supports comprehensive and systemic policies and practices to strengthen literacy for children from birth through grade 12.

Congress has passed a short-term measure to prevent the federal government from shutting down, and the House of Representatives has passed proposed funding levels for the remainder of the year. The House-passed proposal would eliminate funding for Striving Readers in 2010 and 2011, while the short-term measure that has been signed into law eliminates the program in 2011.

On Wednesday, March 9, the Alliance for Excellent Education hosted a webinar to provide an update on the budget negotiations taking place on Capitol Hill and how they will affect funding for the new comprehensive Striving Readers program. Alliance Vice President of Federal Advocacy Phillip Lovell was joined by Don Deshler from the University of Kansas’ Center for Research on Learning and Cindy Parker with the Kentucky Department of Education to discuss the new Striving Readers Comprehensive Program, the research behind it, and the importance of comprehensive literacy plans in preparing students for college and careers. The webinar also provided an opportunity for Dr. Deshler, Ms. Parker, and Mr. Lovell to address questions submitted by viewers across the country.