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Striving Readers Act of 2007

Senate Bill Number: S. 958
Date of Introduction: March 22, 2007
Sponsor(s): Sessions (R-AL) and Murray (D-WA)
Co-Sponsor(s): Akaka (D-HI), Bayh (D-IN), Bingaman (D-NM), Brown (D-OH), Burr (R-NC), Cantwell (D-WA), Cardin (D-MD), Chambliss (R-GA), Cochran (R-MS), Dodd (D-CT), Domenici (R-NM), Durbin (D-IL), Harkin (D-IA), Isakson (R-GA), Kerry (D-MA), Lincoln (D-AR), Lott (R-MS), Mikulski (D-MD), Murkowski (R-AK), Reed (D-RI), Roberts (R-KS), Sanders (I-VT), Tester (D-MT), Whitehouse (D-RI)

House Bill Number: H.R. 2289
Date of Introduction: May 14, 2007
Sponsor(s): Yarmuth (D-KY) and Platts (R-PA)
Co-Sponsor(s): <p>Alexander (R-LA), Altmire (D-PA), Bonner (R-AL), Boucher (D-VA), Boyd (D-FL), Brady (D-PA), Capuano (D-MA), Carney (D-PA), Chandler (D-KY), Clarke (D-NY), Cohen (D-TN), Cramer (D-AL), Davis (D-CA), Davis (D-IL), Diaz-Balart, L. (R-FL), Everett (R-AL), Frank (D-MA), Grijalva (D-AZ), Hare (D-IL), Hinojosa (D-TX), Hirono (D-HI), Jackson (D-IL), Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Kucinich (D-OH), Langevin (D-RI), Lee (D-CA), Lewis, J. (D-GA), Lewis , R. (R-KY), McGovern (D-MA), Michaud (D-ME), Moore (D-KS), Neal (D-MA), Payne (D-NJ), Petri (R-WI), Regula (R-OH), Rogers (R-AL), Rogers (R-KY), Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ross (D-AR), Sanchez, Linda (D-CA), Schakowsky (D-IL) Scott (D-VA), Sutton (D-OH), Tierney (D-MA), Van Hollen (D-MD), Weiner (D-NY), Welch (D-VT), Whitfield (R-KY), Woolsey (D-CA)</p>

Problem: Middle and high school students still struggle to read.
Most secondary students read below grade level. According to the latest NAEP scores, 71% of 8th graders and 65% of 12th graders read below grade level. Poor literacy skills mean that students are more likely to drop out of school and are more likely not to succeed in college. Research shows that only 70% of students graduate on time, and only 34% graduate with literacy skills needed to do well in college.

Secondary students read poorly because their teachers are not trained to teach literacy and because few resources are directed to secondary schools for literacy. Most people think students learn to read early on and continue to improve. In fact, research shows student literacy skills drop off around fourth grade and stagnate through the rest of school. Further, federal and state policymakers do not invest much in reading for secondary students so that secondary schools do not have the resources to focus on literacy or the time and expertise to train their teachers to use literacy strategies in their teaching. Because high schools don’t prepare students to read and write well, they take remedial reading and writing courses in college, costing the nation $1.4 billion every year.

Solution: Striving Readers can improve literacy, graduation rates, and college success.
Better literacy skills improve achievement in all subjects, including math and science, improve student engagement and motivation, and set students up to graduate on time and succeed in college or the workforce. Striving Readers would improve literacy skills by helping every state, district, and school develop comprehensive literacy plans that ensure every student reads and writes on grade level. Striving Readers would also train teachers to use assessments and literacy strategies to help struggling readers, train leaders to support teachers, and provide reading materials for schools that lack them.

About Striving Readers:

From Striving Reader sponsors:

Support for Striving Readers: Since being introduced on March 22, 2007, the Striving Readers Act has garnered support from members of Congress and members of the education community.

  • Dozens of education organizations, representing K-12 educators and school personnel, researchers, civil rights organizations, institutions of higher education, parents, policy organizations, and other advocates have signed Letters of Support sent to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

Striving Readers Act in the News: The Striving Readers Act has been the subject of various articles, op-eds, and blogs.