School context can shape relative intervention response in myriad ways due to factors, such as instructional quality, resource allocation, peer effects, and correlations between the school context and characteristics of enrolled students (e.g., higher-poverty students attending higher-poverty schools). In the current study, we used data from…

The question of how to support the early literacy development of children experiencing marginalization through systematically under-resourced urban schools and neighborhoods has been taken up in a variety of ways in educational research. The correlation between socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, and literacy is well documented, however, this…

Summer reading loss is a prevalent problem that occurs primarily for students who are not exposed to or encouraged to read at home or in summer programs when school is out. This problem prevails among early readers from low-income backgrounds. This study provided 31 six and seven-year-old children with a structured guided reading program through…

In July 2012 the National Literacy Trust were commissioned by Oxfordshire County Council to deliver the Oxfordshire Reading Campaign, a two-year initiative targeting Oxfordshire primary schools and the wider community, with the aim of substantially improving reading levels at Key Stage 1 and to increase the number of pupils reaching level 2b+.…

For many high school students, being "not a reader" means lack of engagement in school-based literacy activities, including reading and writing, and a subsequent lack of academic success. Most importantly, the "not a reader" identity often comes with a particular understanding of reading, one that is limited to information…

Researchers have posited that children generally learn to read in environments that are trusting, comfortable, and offer small group or one-to-one adult support, all of which are characteristics of a high quality early childhood education program. This evaluation research study examines the Pre-Kindergarten Incentive Program, an early childhood…

This multiple case study explored how the literate experiences of six African American men influenced their perceptions of and engagement with a community-based adult basic education and literacy (ABEL) program in a large northeastern city. The theoretical framework included a social practices view of literacy and a constructivist view of…

This pamphlet, part of the National Reading Center Volunteer Reading Tutor Program, presents information for the use of a local coordinating committee. The contents include: a volunteer reading tutor program, how the National Reading Center's program works, the local coordinating committee, membership and functions of the local coordinating…

Presenting an overview of phonics work in community literacy programs in metro Toronto, Ontario, Canada, this book enables new tutors and facilitators to learn how to think about and do the kinds of phonics work that is used by experienced tutors and facilitators in the community programs. The first chapter of the book discusses the history of…

Community-driven school reform is receiving greater attention now as communities become more closely involved with their schools. One such program is a grassroots, faith-based organization called People Acting for Community Together (PACT). PACT is one of about 150 community-organizing groups nationwide that have worked to improve student learning…

Learning to read is a major milestone and should be an event to celebrate. The author of this article relates the story of how, with the encouragement of her principal, and the help of a children's librarian at the public library, the community coordinator at a nearby Barnes and Noble, and a children's book buyer at a local independent book store,…

At a day school in East Palo Alto, California, Negro preschool children attend classes which offer reading and mathematics instruction. The staff consists of volunteer teachers, most of whom are white and credentialed. The school's enrollment exceeds 200 pupils. Parents are encouraged to participate in the program, and when controversy over…

The booklet provides a history of the Right-to-Read, Austin (Texas) Learning Center project and, based on the experiences at Austin, provides a guide to establishing a Right-to-Read project in a learning center. The general problems, needs, and experiences of the project are described and discussed as they evolved, under the following headings:…

A sample of 24 community-based Right to Read projects, 13 serving in-school youth and 11 serving out-of-school adults, were evaluated in this study. The objectives were to measure improvement in reading achievement and to analyze the relationships between achievement and programs, staff, and student characteristics. Testing and data collection was…

A study of 17 first-graders identified at high risk for a reading disability investigated the effects of community tutors on reading performance. When compared to the performance of matched controls, the children performed better on spelling and segmentation but not on reading. Skills declined at the second-grade follow-up evaluation. (CR)