Federal Programs Supporting Educational Change

Appendix B to Vol. III in a series of reports, sponsored by the U.S. Office of Education, on federally funded (change agent) programs designed to introduce and spread innovative practices in public schools. This appendix deals primarily with Right-To-Read, a federally administered program that aims at the eventual elimination of illiteracy by encouraging state education agencies and school districts to pay more attention to reading, particularly for poor children. The appendix also contains descriptions of some Title III reading projects. It outlines USOE planning strategies and the role of the SEAs. The synthesis of the fieldwork case studies (six are included) describes the similarities and differences found in the planning, implementation, and adaptation of each of the projects covered. An overwhelming impression from the fieldwork is the difficulty and complexity of implementing a major Right-To-Read guideline — diagnostic/prescriptive reading.