Across four districts, Smith et al. also found substantially higher first grade achievement among special education students in Success for All than in control schools. Success for All is currently being implemented in more than 300 schools in 70 districts in 24 states. It is usually funded by reallocation of Title I funds, supplemented on occasion by special education funds or personnel. Very few schools have funding beyond what they would have had without the program. What this means is that even without extra resources, reading failure can be substantially reduced.
Tutors are certified teachers who complete an extensive program of professional development.
Reading Recovery is in use in thousands of U.S. schools. However, the tutoring focuses on general perceptual skills as well as reading. Early Childhood Interventions Reading Recovery and Prevention of Learning Disabilities start with children in first grade, and Success for All starts with four and five year olds. There is evidence that if children growing up in impoverished families are given effective stimulation programs and their parents are given help in creating a healthy home environment, they are more likely to perform well in school and to stay out of special education. Some children fail in the early grades for reasons that have nothing to do with their cognitive capabilities.