|
"When does a child learn
to read? Many would
answer kindergarten or
first grade. But
researchers have found
strong evidence that
children can begin to
learn reading and
writing in their
earliest years, long
before they go to
school." --
National Institute for
Literacy |
|
 |
|
| |
Connecticut Early
Childhood Education Cabinet
Also known as the Governor's Early Childhood Education
Cabinet, this panel was created in 2005 to advise on school
readiness issues, evaluate current school readiness
programs, and assist in developing budget scenarios for
early childhood education programs. Its members include
Commission on Children Executive Director Elaine Zimmerman.
Its documents are posted online by The United Way of
Connecticut.
Visit this site
-
 Excerpts
on reading achievement from Fine by Nine: All
Children Healthy, Safe and Successful in School by Age
9, submitted to the Cabinet by its Goal 2 Committee
in May 2008.
Download the PDF
- Ready by 5 & Fine by 9, published in October 2006, is
the Cabinet's suggested framework for early childhood
education.
Download the PDF
- Governor Rell held the first
meeting of the cabinet on September 2005.
Press release
|
| |
All Children Can Read by
Fourth Grade
Brain research shows that reading is teachable
to 95 percent of our students. Yet 10 to 40
percent of them will have difficulty learning to
read and need specialized instruction. That's
just one of the key facts in this document,
which outlines Connecticut's trailblazing
efforts to improve school readiness.
Download the PDF |
| |
Connecticut's Blueprint for Reading
Achievement
This 97-page report, issued in 2000, was
written by the Early Reading Success
Panel. It contains 12 key
recommendations for improving reading
instruction in Connecticut.
Download the report from the state
Department of Education website |
| |
Every Grownup Is a Famous Storyteller
This booklet, created by the Commission
and sponsored by the state Department of
Education, uses a photo exhibit to make
basic points about the importance of
reading to children. Introduction by Dr.
Alice S. Carter of Yale University's
Department of Psychology.
Download the PDF |
| |
Oral Language
Development
What language skills does a child need
to develop before entering kindergarten
or first grade? Here's a checklist.
Download the PDF |
| |
104 Books Every Child Should Read
Recommended by the New York Public
Library, with additions from the
Connecticut State Library.
Download the PDF. |
| |
Reading Resources
In
Connecticut, many organizations are eager to
help children and adults achieve literacy.
Others offer valuable research data. You'll
find links to them
here. |
| |
Teacher Preparation: The Key to Early
Reading Success
Most teacher-education programs fail to
train future teachers in research-based
methods of reading instruction. This
PowerPoint presentation by Margie
Gillis, Ed.D., of New Haven-based Haskin
Laboratories, highlights the reasons why
so many teachers are ill-prepared -- and
what can be done about it.
Download the PDF |
| |
Important Early Reading Legislation
Below is the most
important legislation adopted in recent
years to ensure that Connecticut
children become early readers. See other
articles on this page for plain-language
summaries. To research the legislative
history of any bill, visit the
General Assembly website.
| |
|
|
2006 |
An
Act
Implementing the Provisions of
the Budget Concerning Education
(Public Act 06-135) -
Requires priority school
districts to use Early Reading
Success grant dollars more
effectively by relying on
research-based teacher
instruction.
Download the PDF. |
| |
|
|
2004 |
An Act Concerning Teacher
Education Programs at
Institutions of Higher Education
(Public Act 04-75) -
Requires teacher-training
institutions to include
instruction on literacy skills.
Download the PDF.
|
| |
|
|
1999 |
An Act Concerning a State-Wide
Early Reading Success Institute
(Public Act 99-227) - Among
other things, created the Early
Reading Success Panel and
charged it with determining what
skills and knowledge teachers
need to teach reading
effectively.
Download the PDF. |
| |
|
|
1999 |
An Act Concerning Education
Accountability (Public Act
99-288) - Requires schools
to explain why children are
promoted if they have not
reached grade-level
expectations.
Download the PDF. |
| |
|
|
1998 |
An Act Concerning Early Reading
Success (Public Act 98-243) -
Provided an additional $20
million to urban and priority
school districts for early
reading intervention.
Download the PDF. |
| |
|
|
1997 |
An Act Concerning School
Readiness (Public Act 97-259) -
Created a comprehensive
preschool initiative for
children aged 3 and 4.
Download the PDF. |
|
| |
CT
Leads the Way with School Readiness and
Early Reading Success
An overview, updated in 2005, of the 1997 school readiness
legislation (Public Act 97-259), in
which Connecticut made a comprehensive
commitment to best practices in early
learning.
Download the PDF. |
| |
School Readiness and Early Reading
Success newsletters
These Commission
newsletters concern implementation of
the school readiness legislation.
|
| |
The Importance of
Early Language for Learning
Research shows the importance of early language stimulation for
brain development and later learning,
writes Alice S. Carter, Ph.D., of Yale
University's Department of Psychology.
Download the PDF. |
| |
The National Institute for Literacy
This federal agency offers an assortment of free publications for parents and
educators alike.
Visit the website.
|
| |
|
This page
was last updated:
July 22, 2008 |
Site
Map
