Pittsburgh Public Schools Adopt Macmillan/McGraw-Hill's New 'Treasures' Language Arts Curriculum

This fall, the 15,000 elementary students enrolled in Pittsburgh's public schools will begin using Macmillan/McGraw- Hill's Treasures, one of the most comprehensive reading programs available for grades pre-K through 6. Treasures is also one of the first all-new elementary reading programs published since the release of the National Reading Panel's findings.

Treasures is based on the most recent reading research and built on the five elements of reading as prescribed by the National Reading Panel: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension. In addition to providing authoritative guidance on what to teach, Macmillan/McGraw-Hill's Treasures program gives teachers best-practice approaches for effective, differentiated instruction, enabling them to meet the needs of students at all reading levels, and provides a wealth of award-winning, engaging literature vital to motivating young readers. Macmillan/McGraw-Hill is a leading pre-K through Grade 6 publisher of print and technology-based materials.

"Nothing could be nobler than helping children become literate, as reading is the key to economic success, full social and civic participation, and personal fulfillment," said Treasures senior author Dr. Timothy Shanahan, who served on the National Reading Panel and was responsible for evaluating research used for No Child Left Behind guidelines. "To do the best for all children, it is essential that we rely on the best empirical research into how reading is learned and what works." Dr. Shanahan is a professor of urban education at the University of Illinois-Chicago and a nationally recognized expert and speaker in the field of reading education. He was elected president of the International Reading Association in May 2006 for the 2006-2007 term.

"Excellent reading instruction is a critical component of our goal to improve student achievement. We believe that the Treasures reading program will help us achieve that goal," said Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt.

Recognizing the importance of continued student achievement and ongoing staff development, Macmillan/McGraw-Hill will partner with Pittsburgh Public Schools to build the capacity for implementing this new research-based program and improving overall reading instruction in line with NCLB guidelines across the district.

The Treasures program ensures Adequate Yearly Progress by setting high expectations for all students, with materials to challenge gifted students as well as intervention materials for struggling readers. It features assessments and technology-based data monitoring to inform instruction, allowing teachers to identify skills gaps and address them quickly. The program is carefully attuned to the real classroom environment, providing daily targeted instruction support.

"Treasures' explicit, systematic instruction and research-proven routines meet all the requirements of NCLB, which is essential for any school district concerned about meeting Adequate Yearly Progress requirements," said Sari Factor, president, Macmillan/McGraw-Hill. "As educators continue to seek the most effective, standards-based teaching and learning solutions, Treasures is receiving enthusiastic endorsements from school districts across the nation."

  To learn more about Treasures, visit
  http://www.macmillanmh.com/reading/treasures.html.

  About Macmillan/McGraw-Hill

Macmillan/McGraw-Hill is a leading pre-K through Grade 6 publisher of print and technology-based materials that help teach every child in today's classrooms. It is a unit of McGraw-Hill Education, a leading global provider of instructional, assessment and reference solutions that empower the success of professionals and students of all ages. McGraw-Hill Education is a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, McGraw- Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 290 offices in 38 countries. Sales in 2005 were $6.0 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mheducation.com/.

SOURCE: Macmillan

CONTACT: April Hattori
McGraw-Hill Education
(212) 904-2078
april_hattori@mcgraw-hill.com
Tom Stanton
McGraw-Hill Education
(212) 904-3214
tom_stanton@mcgraw-hill.com

Web site: http://www.macmillanmh.com/reading/treasures.html
http://www.mheducation.com/