This paper provides an overview of Failure Free Reading, a program with the primary goal of providing a basic understanding of the reading process to students in grades K-12 with pronounced reading difficulty and move them into traditional reading programs. The program is targeted to and most effective with at-risk and English as a Second Language students, those with severe learning difficulties and others in the lowest reading percentiles. All students are expected to learn to read from meaningful material from the beginning of the program, regardless of prior reading ability. Failure Free does not deny access to any student and does not discontinue the program for any student for any reason other than successful transition from the program. Failure Free integrates facilitator-directed classroom instruction, talking software and instructional print materials.
Facilitators can be teachers, assistants or noncertified tutors.
Sections of the paper discuss background, philosophy and goals, program components, evidence of effectiveness, professional development and support, implementation, costs, considerations, contact information, and policy issues and questions.