Schools Matter: The Learn Act: An Expensive Mistake

Schools Matter: The Learn Act: An Expensive Mistake

The Learn Act: An Expensive Mistake

by skrashen

The LEARN Act: An Expensive Mistake

Sent to the Seattle Times, May 12

There is no evidence Sen. Murray's bill to improve literacy will work ("Murray's literacy plan a test of clout, May 11). As the Times notes, Sen. Murray's LEARN Act is a combination of three existing programs. None have been successful.

Reading First only helped children do better on tests in which they pronounced words presented in a list. It had no impact on tests in which children had to understand what they read. The Early Reading First Act is for pre-schoolers. According to Education Week, evaluation of one version of this program produced