The Response to Intervention initiative is in danger of failing and being thrown on the ash heaps of countless education reform initiatives, but not because it is poorly structured, rather on account of poor implementation. Among the implementation mistakes are seven that can be watched for and avoided. (Contains 3 tables.)

Authors of skills management systems may have misinterpreted and misapplied Benjamin Bloom's theory of mastery learning in developing their systems for teaching reading. Skills management procedures are inconsistent with Bloom's theory in the areas of management, learning tasks, skills hierarchy, and instructional methods. In addition, the four…

Raised are serious doubts about the effectiveness of reading skills management systems, with their strategy of fragmenting reading into isolated subskills, worksheets, skills drills and tests. It is suggested that continuing motivation is more important than a skills management system. (KC)

Describes a schoolwide project designed to enhance independent reading at home and at school. Provides a description of the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the project. Offers suggestions for others who may have an interest in the initiative or who may wish to replicate the project. (MG)

A study examined how knowledgeable school administrators are about reading programs in their schools and if they are "doing what they are supposed to be doing." Subjects were administrators of 20 elementary schools who completed a 10-page questionnaire entitled "Reading Survey for Administrators." Results indicated that all…

Describes a reading program based on Piagetian theory and a psycholinguistic interpretation of the reading process. Explains each component of the program and offers evaluative data attesting to its success. (FL)

In this commentary, the author identifies what, in her opinion, has been left out of the discussion of "scale up." She expresses particular concern that the rhetoric of scaling up, and the concomitant assertion of scientific underpinnings for programs brought to scale, may overstate the relation of the developers' programs and program materials to…

Describes steps that should be followed in building a reading program that meets students' needs and provides effective instruction in developmental, corrective, and remedial reading: (1) establishing desired skills, (2) undertaking a program of pupil evaluation, (3) initiating an appropriate teaching strategies curriculum, and (4) conducting…

This paper discusses monitoring the school literacy program. Teachers make many educational decisions about how reading and writing should be taught in the classroom. Some teachers makes these decisions intuitively, but a systematic process of monitoring is more effective. When teachers monitor the school's literacy program, they track the reading…

Describes an evaluation model used to assess the effectiveness of a reading and study skills program at Washington State University, then suggests how it can be used in other reading and study skills centers.(FL)

Discusses the content and structure of a computer-based instructional program in reading for disadvantaged adults and describes the design, test materials, procedures, and results of a formative evaluation with 36 pre-GED students in an Illinois Correctional Center. Results support the value of such complete computer-based reading comprehension…

Through a review of the literature, this paper describes current practices in compensatory reading programs, (particularly Title I and Chapter 1 programs), offers evidence on how such practices evolved, identifies program features that may be questionable, and suggests ways to redesign such programs to enhance their effectiveness. The first…

The author responds to Pinnell et al's (1996) call for caution in using cost-benefit analysis in measuring educational reform success. It is argued that reform already is being sold to state legislators and educators in cost-benefit terms and that research has been inappropriately used in the selling process. (GR)

Intended to give attention to instruction in reading in the middle grades and beyond, this yearbook includes the following essays: (1) "The Challenge to Education to Produce Literate Citizens" (Alan C. Purves and Olive S. Niles); (2) "The Role of Print as a Medium in Our Society" (Charles Suhor); (3) "The Context of…

The problem of a perceived decline in secondary school students' reading comprehension and the efforts of one high school English department head to address that problem are described in this paper. The first section of the paper presents an extensive documentation of the decline in reading comprehension and of reactions by state and local…