Thank you ever so much for Sol Stern's fabulous analysis of Reading First and rebuttal to Bob Slavin. And thank you for turning the spotlight on Slavin's posturing and self-interest and on the U.S. Department of Education's utter failure to defend the program they once championed. Many people in the field have worked hard over the last few years, with Reading First's support, to learn how to teach reading, and they are succeeding with tough student-populations. It's very sad to see the demoralization that comes from having the rug pulled out from under these teachers and principals just when students were achieving at substantially higher levels.
Louisa Moats
Consulting Advisor for Literacy Research and Professional Development
Sopris West Educational Services
Louisa Moats has authored two reports about reading for Fordham. They are available here and here.