2008 Grant Proposal Details

Read Right   Kelly Middle School

Total: $2000

Description:  Colin Kelly Middle Schools has initiated Read Right for grades 6th through 8th for the Fall, 2008. Read Right is a unique approach to teaching reading that enables students with reading problems to improve their reading skills in a relatively brief amount of time. Read Right is conducted as an intervention program with three to four students served per tutor, per period. Each student is tutored daily and is also expected to read level-appropriate materials independently. Our implementation plans include training both certified and classified personnel to receive seven weeks of intensive training and serve as Read Right instructors. Plans also include purchasing a library of leveled books necessary to run the Read Right program.

Why is this important?  Read Right is aimed at students who, though they may have had effective systematic, explicit phonic instruction, still don’t read well enough to perform at a high, or even adequate, academic standard. For these students the issues are frequently fluency and comprehension, and Read Right has demonstrated success in positively impacting these problem areas. The Read Right system of instruction integrates knowledge from brain research, learning theory, and reading theory and is consistently successful in permanently eliminating reading problems. Read Right for English Language Learners (ELL) tutoring works quickly and effectively to significantly improve the English communication abilities of participating students. Students improve their pronunciation so they are more easily understood and expand their vocabulary so they can more readily express their thinking and understand others’ thinking. Students improve their ability to use appropriate English structure so that their communication in English is more closely aligned with what one would expect from a native speaker. As a result of improving their vocabulary, pronunciation, and structural knowledge of English, participants will be able to understand both spoken and written English more readily. In the North region of the Eugene School District 4j, both our neighboring middle school and the high school have implemented the Read Right program and have experienced tremendous success! For example, at North Eugene High School (NEHS), for every 4.6 hours of tutoring, a student’s reading level in increased by one grade level. Since the 2004 implementation of Read Right at NEHS, they have serviced 514 students with a total reading level gain of 1414 grades!

Who will be served?  Colin Kelly Middle Schools serves approximately 500 students whose population is comprised of 47% free/reduced lunch, 29% minority, 17% special education, and 6% English Language Learner (ELL) students. Two of our three feeder elementary schools have an even higher free/reduced lunch population ranging from 76%-78%. Because of our high needs population, many students come to school with minimal experiences and supports that students in more advantaged homes can access to broaden their scope of understanding and enhance learning. As such, 72% of our ELL students, 36% of our economically disadvantaged, and 50% of our special education students are not passing Oregon State Benchmarks and are reading below grade level. We are very concerned about our struggling readers. As such, we believe the implementation of a reading program that is research based and is proven to turn illiterate students into readers is imperative. With two Read Right instructors on staff, we will be able to service 24 students (eight per grade level; 6th, 7th, and 8th) at any given time. Students remain in the program anywhere from nine to 18 weeks, depending on need. This cycle will allow us to support approximately 75 students, annually!

How will this be evaluated?  The success of this project will be measured by: Assessment: 1)Eugene School District 4J Reading Kit Assessment - 2)Pre/Post testing using the Gates MacGinitie Test of Reading (Washington State Standardized Test) - 3)Within the Read Right program, there are “measures of functionality” which create constant, daily assessments. Program Evaluation: •Testimonials and questionnaires that go out to parents, teachers, administrators, and students •100% of the students who participate in the Read Right program will improve their reading skills

Does this build on existing programs?  Our school currently provides fully integrated classroom structures with additional services of support for English Language Learners, Special Education, academic support in both reading and mathematics instruction, after school homework club, and differentiated instruction. We plan on incorporating Read Right into our school day in a way that allows students to continue receiving instruction in their regular language arts class in addition to intensive reading support through the Read Right program. Once students are reading at grade level, they will be exited from the program and another student will enter. We expect every student who participates in the Read Right program to leave the program reading at grade level, with increased comprehension and confidence. The length of time each student spends in the program will vary depending on the degree of deficit. Results from other schools have shown that students continued to increase reading/literacy skills a year after exiting the program.

Budget:  Start up costs for the program are quite expensive, approximately $24,600, including costs for seven weeks of training for two staff, sub costs, and the costs of the resource library books and audio. The grant would help defray the cost of the program by assisting with the purchase of the resource library. The $2,000.00 toward leveled books and MP3 audio books would be 8% of the cost of the program. Total cost: $24,600.00 Laura Bush Grant - 6,000.00 EEF Requested - 2,000.00 KMS Balance - $16,600.00

Proposal #:  56