Men with canvas sacks scramble up narrow ladders in the deep shade of a hillside avocado grove, harvesting fist-sized fruit for the second time this season. Reading Is Fundamental, but funding can be fickle. For 35 years, the RIF program has given millions of free paperback books to poor children in 50 states. But it stands to lose all of its federal money next year.
Reading Is Fundamental, but funding can be fickle.
For 35 years, the RIF program has given millions of free paperback books to poor children in 50 states. But it stands to lose all of its federal money next year. Backers of the honor say he has supported expansion. But Councilwoman Walters says it's undeserved. Reforms since 1992 have failed to raise scores, except among high-achieving pupils.