The Learning First Alliance Summit On Reading and Math

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: DIANA ALDRIDGE, 202 496-2120

JANUARY 28, 1998

LEARNING FIRST ALLIANCE HOLDS NATIONAL SUMMIT ON READING AND MATHEMATICS

Delegations of 12 Leading National Educational Organizations Announce Key Goals to Improve Student Achievement in Reading and Math

(Wash. DC) Delegates from 12 leading national educational organizations concluded a three-day Summit today by endorsing an historic agreement for joint action to improve student learning in reading and mathematics.

The educational organizations are founding members of the Learning First Alliance, an unprecedented and permanent partnership to further student improvement in America’s public schools.

The Learning First Alliance Summit on Reading and Mathematics brought together over 100 delegates comprised of members from the Alliance organizations from across the country. The Summit delegates gathered to determine joint objectives, to share best practices, and to explore the most effective means of working together long-term to bring about real impact in student achievement.

In anticipation of the Summit, Alliance member organizations and leading experts in reading and mathematics drafted comprehensive action papers which framed issues and presented potential recommendations for the delegates’ discussions and strategy sessions. The delegates agreed that the papers will be used to inform directions and actions of the Alliance.

Delegates emerged from the Summit today to announce their support for two overarching goals:

In reading, Summit delegates called for collaboration toward the goal of assuring that all children in America learn to read well. Using information and techniques available today -- and new approaches that research could readily produce and validate within a few years -- the nation can ensure reading success for all.

If we start today, we can ensure that virtually every healthy child born in 1998 will be reading at or above the ’Basic’ level on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) by age nine, and that every child now in elementary school will graduate from high school as a proficient reader, Anne Bryant, executive director of the National School Boards Association, said at a press briefing following the Summit’s conclusion today. We can also substantially increase the number of children reading at NAEP’s ’Proficient’ and ’Advanced’ levels.

In mathematics, Summit delegates called for collaborative action toward the goal of assuring that virtually all students in America successfully complete a challenging K-12 mathematics curriculum that includes mastery of introductory algebra and geometry by grade nine. The Alliance will strive to achieve this goal for students starting school in the fall of 1998, while special efforts to progress toward that goal will also be initiated immediately for all students now enrolled. The focus of these efforts will be placed on success in middle grades, because mastery of introductory algebra and geometry is essential for access to higher levels of mathematics necessary for admission to college and to meet the initial technical qualification for postsecondary employment.

Summit delegates determined to pursue the reading and mathematics objectives through three core initiatives:

Improving and increasing professional development for educators to assure that evidence about what works reaches the classroom;
Engaging parents and the public in efforts to improve achievement;
Assuring the best available and proven research is more consistently applied in the classroom regarding instruction, curriculum and materials.

The Summit delegates also committed to working with their local and state members and those of other Alliance organizations to organize collaborative action at the state and local levels.

"Pursuing our reading and mathematics goals through professional development, community engagement, and research-based instruction will require an integrated effort of all parts of our education system," said Shirley Sagawa, executive director of the Learning First Alliance. "Working with and through our member organizations, the Alliance will help bring to bear the enormous talent and expertise of a combined membership representing more than 10 million committed teachers, parents, curriculum specialists, school board members, state policymakers, school principals, superintendents, and teacher educators.

Support for the Summit was provided by the Ford Motor Company and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.