Texas Approves SRA Early Interventions in Reading for K-2 Intensive Reading Intervention Grants

SRA/McGraw-Hill's Early Interventions in Reading -- developed and researched in Texas -- is one of three curricula approved for the Texas Education Agency's 2009-2010 Intensive Reading or Language Acquisition Intervention Pilot grant. Twenty-seven schools in Texas are eligible for the grant of up to $100,000. Applications are due May 5.

The purpose of this pilot is to provide supplemental, intensive intervention in reading or language acquisition during the school day using neuroscience-based, scientifically validated interventions or instructional tools proven to accelerate learning, cognitive ability, and English language proficiency.

The target will be K-2 students who are at risk of not passing the TAKS reading assessment in Grade 3. Program goals are:

  --  Assist qualifying districts or charter schools in increasing the
      proficiency of students in reading or language acquisition.
  --  Assist qualifying districts or charter schools in meeting the grade
      advancement requirements for reading of the Student Success
      Initiative.

SRA Early Interventions in Reading is designed to work with a core reading program, providing the significant increase in the intensity of instruction that low-level readers need to meet grade-level expectations. SRA Early Interventions in Reading helps teachers identify struggling readers in Grades K-3 and provide them with lessons that build mastery of essential skills through explicit, systematic instruction in five critical strands -- phonemic awareness, letter-sound correspondences, word recognition and spelling, fluency, and comprehension.

Results from federally funded research studies using the program materials confirm that, after participating in SRA Early Interventions in Reading for one year, over 99% of students at risk of reading failure at the beginning of the academic year were no longer at risk of failing in reading.

SRA Early Interventions in Reading was developed by Patricia Mathes, Ph.D., the Texas Instruments Chair of Reading, Professor of Literacy and Language Acquisition, and Director of the Institute for Reading Research at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. A former classroom/reading teacher, she has served on the faculties of Pediatrics at the University of Texas -- Houston Medical School, the College of Education at Florida State University, and Peabody College for Teachers at Vanderbilt University. Since 1991, she has been conducting large-scale, classroom-based reading intervention research with funding from multiple sources including the U.S. Office of Education, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Science Foundation, as well as state agencies.

Dr. Mathes explains successful intervention strategies and results of several Texas-based studies of the program in a white paper, The Case for Early Intervention in Reading.

SRA/McGraw-Hill is well-known for effective intervention programs. For example, SRA's Corrective Reading also was recently approved for Texas Intensive Reading Initiative, funding for schools with students enrolled in Grades 4-8 that have failed to improve student performance in reading.

About SRA/McGraw-Hill

SRA/McGraw-Hill is the top provider of specialized research-based educational programs and professional development for the elementary market. Leading programs include SRA Imagine It! reading program, Direct Instruction, SRA Number Worlds, and additional core and supplemental programs. SRA is part of McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP). McGraw-Hill Education is a leading global provider of instructional, assessment, and reference solutions that empower professionals and students of all ages. McGraw-Hill Education has offices in 33 countries and publishes in more than 65 languages. Additional information is available at MHEducation.com. For more information on SRA/McGraw-Hill's products, call 1-888-SRA-4543 and visit SRAonline.com.

  Media Contacts:
  Karen Sorrentino                     Melina Metzger
  SRA/McGraw-Hill                      Paul Werth Associates
  (614) 750-7277                       (614) 224-8114 Ext. 236
  karen_sorrentino@mcgraw-hill.com     mmetzger@paulwerth.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

SOURCE: SRA/McGraw-Hill

CONTACT: Karen Sorrentino of SRA/McGraw-Hill, +1-614-750-7277,
karen_sorrentino@mcgraw-hill.com; or Melina Metzger of Paul Werth Associates,
+1-614-224-8114, Ext. 236, mmetzger@paulwerth.com

Web Site: http://www.sraonline.com/