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Federal Path for Reading Questioned

‘Reading First’ Poor Results Offer Limited Guidance

The latest lackluster results from a study on the impact of the Reading First program offer little insight into which parts of the program are worth saving and which need revamping—vital questions, experts say, that could help guide any future federal endeavor to address the nation’s reading woes.

One of the largest and most rigorous studies ever undertaken by the U.S. Department of Education found that the $6 billion funding for Reading First has helped more students “crack the code” to identify letters and words, but it has not had an effect on reading comprehension among 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders in participating schools.

But the study’s limited scope—the impact of the federal funding on reading comprehension—does not offer enough information to craft better plans or...