3/25/04 - Office of Early Education and Reading Initiatives is conducting seven regional public discussion forums - two in New York City.  The forums are intended to engage the public in a statewide conversation designed to ensure that early childhood policy is aligned with current research, and that there is increased focus on literacy in the preschool and early elementary grades.  The discussions will also guide the work of the State Education Department in revising the existing early childhood policy and in supporting the direction of early childhood planning, implementation, and evaluation at the local level.

Parents, teachers, reading specialists, principals, superintendents, program providers and others interested in the education and development of young children who receive services in public and nonpublic settings are invited to attend these seven public forums.  Please refer to http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/nyc/upk.html for further information.

12/18/03 - Call for Expert Reviewers - Reading First- January 20-24, 2004, Albany, NY: The New York State Education Department is recruiting expert reviewers to participate in the formal evaluation of applications from public school districts and charter schools for the 2004-2006 Reading First program funds.

2/12/04  - Governor Pataki and Commissioner Mills announce Reading First Program Awards.

Press Release / To view a complete list of schools:  HTML

12/1/03 - Reading First Questions and Answers for Eligible Public School Districts and Charter Schools

11/25/03 - Scheduled Technical Assistance Meetings Open Only to Reading First Eligible Public and Charter Schools: A second series of statewide technical assistance meetings have been scheduled in coordination with Scientifically-Based Reading Research (SBRR) as it relates to Reading First Regional School Support Centers to provide more in-depth information and guidance in the development of the instructional component of eligible district and charter school Reading First applications.

10/2003 -  Reading First Grant Application - 2004-2006:  
 

Appendix A:   SBRR

Appendix B:   New York State Early Literacy Guidance:
                      Prekindergarten - Grade 3
Appendix C:   List of Eligible Districts
Appendix D:   List of Eligible and Potentially Eligible Charter
                      Schools
Appendix E:    Scoring Rubric
Appendix F:    Assessment Rubric

Competitive grant application for eligible public school districts and charter schools for funds to improve reading achievement in grades K-3 by using scientifically based reading research to strengthen professional development, instruction, and the use of assessments to inform and modify teaching. Closing Date for LEA Reading First applications is January 9, 2004.