The Reading First Initiative

The Reading First Initiative was a U.S. program established in 2002 aimed at improving reading skills among young children, particularly in grades K-3. It provided federal funding to schools to implement scientifically based reading instruction. The initiative focused on five key components of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency, and reading comprehension. By promoting evidence-based practices and offering resources, the goal was to ensure that all children could read at grade level by the end of third grade, ultimately enhancing their academic performance and future opportunities.