The letter cited that in order for the United States to compete in a global knowledge-based economy, young people must graduate with the advanced reading and writing skills required for career and college success. Two-thirds of all new jobs will require some type of postsecondary training.  Currently, the manufacturing sector reports over 600,000 jobs in the U.S. go unfilled because applicants do not possess necessary literacy skills.  Other sectors report that they would relocate new jobs in the United States if the U.S. had the requisite highly skilled workforce.  

The Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Program takes a comprehensive approach. It supports literacy development and instruction from birth through Grade 12—from beginning letter recognition to the ability to infer and comprehend complex text—to ensure that all students can read and write at grade level.

SRCL provides resources to states and local schools to build educators’ knowledge and skills in providing literacy instruction and support for each grade level and in each content area.  The six states that have current Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grants are building integrated systems of effective literacy instruction that include both core and advanced literacy skills which all students will need to succeed in college and the workplace.

Many states are moving forward with the implementation of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects. These Standards define knowledge and skills students need during their K-12 school years in order to be college and career ready at the end of high school. Although the Standards do not define specific methods or programs, an effective early intervention is critical for students already struggling with literacy learning.

Free resources answer questions for teachers and administrators

Reading Recovery is a research- and evidence-based first-grade reading intervention that brings the majority of students with a complete intervention to grade-level performance within 12 to 20 weeks of daily 30-minute lessons. By helping struggling readers quickly catch up with their peers in Grade 1, Reading Recovery plays a vital role in ensuring that students can benefit from instruction at every subsequent grade level.

Read the Common Core State Standards and find out which states have adopted the standards.

Background
For the past 3 years, the Reading Recovery Council of North America has been part of a coalition of 40 national education organizations that advocated for increased resources to support literacy for children from birth through Grade 12. The coalition has been instrumental in the development of the Literacy Education for All, Results for the Nation (LEARN) Act and the Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Program (SRCL).

Funding for the Striving Readers Program was first appropriated in FY 2010 and provided $200 million for a comprehensive literacy development and education program. In 2012, $159 million was appropriated to continue these efforts. In October 2010, formula grants were awarded to State Education Agencies to create State Literacy Teams that would develop a comprehensive plan. The remainder of the FY 10 funds, $180 million, was open to a competition for all states. Georgia, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Texas were winners of the competition. These states will use 95% of their award to make subgrants to LEAs. Contact your state education agency to learn more about timelines and possibilities.