2008 Grant Proposal Details

ReadRight Technology Upgrades   Churchill High School

Total: $1500

Description:  This project would provide technological updates to our reading intervention program, Readright. Currently all students use audio tapes and tape players to access the audio portion of the program. The update which is available is an MP3 player/computer system which would be put in place instead of the tape system.

Why is this important?  Our ReadRight Program is a highly effective reading intervention that is used with students with a wide range of degrees of struggle with reading. We work with many students who are at risk of school failure and tend to be discouraged and low-achieving. We have had phenomenal success in helping students increase their reading levels by several grade levels in one year, and usually this translates into higher grade point average, less behavioral challenges, and increased self confidence overall. ReadRight is one of the tools we use to help eliminate the achievement gap. In addition, we work with many students for whom English is a second language, and it is very effective in increasing the rate of english learning for those students. Our current audio system is cumbersome, and the new system (as reported by another school in the 4J district) improves the learning environment in several ways. It significantly decreases the amount of time each student and teacher uses in set up and record-keeping for each tutoring session, allowing more time for the actual instruction. It allows for a more comfortable environment with less distraction and more room at each tutoring space. In addition, we think that it will save time and money that we currently spend with tape player and headphone diagnosis and replacement.

Who will be served?  All students in our ReadRight program, about 250 per year, would be served by this improvement. Many of these are students who are identified as at risk, members of a minority group, or otherwise needing extra intervention in order to succeed in high school.

How will this be evaluated?  We will review the list of expected benefits, and evaluate the results of operation with the new system. The most easily measurable factor will be the actual time spent on instruction during the tutoring sessions. It will be exciting to see how much the new system can shift that very valuable time to actual instruction.

Does this build on existing programs?  Yes, this is a very concrete improvement to a central academic program in our school.

Budget:  This grant request is for equipment only. We have all other supplies needed to upgrade to the new system.

Proposal #:  21