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# *Reading First Sustainability*

# Overview

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> **Sustaining Reading First**
>
> Schools across the country are seeing significant improvements in
> reading achievement for students served by Reading First (*Reading
> First Implementation Evaluation: Interim Report, USDE, 2006*). But the
> Reading First community, including teachers, principals, district and
> state leaders, are concerned with their ability to sustain the
> improved student reading results in light of the eventual loss of the
> federal funding that launched the initiative and the federal
> leadership and support that was provided during grant implementation.
> Reading First Leaders are looking for guidance in identifying which of
> the key aspects of the initiative to sustain and how to develop and
> implement a Reading First sustainability plan.
>
> The Sustaining Reading First Webpage offer a variety of resources and
> tools to assist leaders at all levels in sustaining scientifically
> based reading instruction.
>
> **What is sustainability?**
>
> *Sustainability is the ability of a program to operate on its core
> beliefs and values (its reading culture) and use them to guide
> essential and inevitable program adaptations over time while
> maintaining improved outcomes.*
>
> *Adapted from Century and Levy, 2002*
>
> **It's more than maintenance.** We might be tempted to think that
> sustaining Reading First simply involves keeping up the reading
> instruction practices beyond the initial funding period---in other
> words, [maintaining]{.underline} the scientifically based reading
> instruction practices Reading First schools have implemented. In fact,
> it's not possible to freeze a program in time and simply maintain.
> Real sustainability of scientifically based reading instruction means
> continuing to use core beliefs and values arising from scientifically
> based reading research as a foundation, while improving and adapting
> the schoolwide reading program over the course of time.
>
> **It's more than replacing grant funds.** No one can deny that
> on-going funds are needed to implement scientifically based reading
> instruction. For recurring resource need, funds formerly available
> through Reading First must be replaced. However, funding is only part
> of the picture. Reading First has taken the findings of scientific
> research into practice and led the way in implementing a new way of
> teaching reading. Many schools have successfully implemented new
> practices and are seeing the pay-off in student outcomes. Funds are
> needed to support and facilitate this---but they are a means and not
> an end.
>
> **What are we trying to sustain?**
>
> **Results**
>
> The most important thing to focus on sustaining is the improved
> student achievement results accomplished through Reading First. We
> should never lose sight of the fact that sustaining Reading First is
> first and foremost about continuing to make progress toward the goal
> of all students reading on grade level by the end of third grade.
>
> **A Strong Evidence-Based Reading Culture**
>
> Of all the elements of a school-wide reading model like Reading First,
> leadership and a strong reading culture have the greatest potential
> for sustaining the model over time as initial funding streams
> disappear. Strong leadership and reading culture will take
> scientifically based reading instruction---including its vision,
> underlying values, and beliefs and practices---from a federally
> supported initiative to simply being the way reading is taught in a
> school or district.
>
> **Fidelity to Implementation**
>
> You cannot sustain what you have not fully implemented. Research-based
> curricula and instruction, formative assessments, and high quality
> professional development---these are the foundational elements of
> Reading First put into place. Only after teachers have gained
> expertise in the implementing scientifically based reading instruction
> and experienced initial success can they adapt and refine the effort
> so that it thrives over time.
>
> **What resources are available to help you sustain the success you
> have achieved through Reading First?**
>
> **Planning for Sustaining Reading First**
>
> The first step in planning for sustainability is to conduct a needs
> assessment to determine where you stand on key issues related to
> sustaining Reading First. The Sustainability Self Assessment Tool is
> designed to be used by program leaders at different
> levels---classroom, school, district, and state---to determine their
> capacity to sustain their program and to identify areas that need to
> be developed in their sustainability plan.
>
> **Training and Technical Assistance in Sustaining Reading First**
>
> [Sustainability Planning Workshops for Local Districts]{.underline}
> Local planning workshops will be offered on a scheduled basis. These
> workshops will serve selected districts in two regional workshops each
> year. They provide an opportunity for a cross-program district team to
> conduct needs assessments and develop a sustainability plan under
> expert guidance.
>
> [Technical Assistance]{.underline} Technical assistance in
> sustainability will be offered to state departments of education on a
> scheduled basis. The purpose of this assistance is to facilitate the
> assessment of a state's current capacity for sustaining Reading First
> and determine appropriate actions.
>
> **More Resources on Sustaining Reading First**

-   *The Sustainability Briefs Series*

> This series of briefs provides in-depth treatment of key
> sustainability topics. Available in several brief options, these
> briefs are useful for individuals wishing to deepen their
> understanding of sustainability or for use in group settings such as
> study groups or workshops.
>
> Building a Strong Reading Culture: What You Can Do
>
> Developing Effective Reading Leadership

-   *Reading First Sustainability Literature Review* This review
    examines the literature on sustaining school reforms and identifies
    seven key concepts of sustainability as they relate to Reading
    First. It is a useful starting point for program leaders who are
    beginning to plan for sustainability.

-   *Reading First Sustainability Annotated Bibliography* This briefly
    annotated compilation of the literature on sustainability was used
    to develop the literature review and is a source of suggested
    reading for program leaders who want to delve more deeply into the
    sustainability literature.

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