During a press conference at the Lyseth Elementary School, Senator Collins and Ron Tomalis, who oversees the Elementary and Secondary Education office at the US Department of Education, announced the funds. Also at the press event was a representative from the Maine Department of Education.
"This $2.6 million is welcome news in the state of Maine. I am proud that compared to the rest of the nation, Maine ranks very high in elementary education testing scores. But there are always more students who need to be reached by specially trained teachers. These funds will help us identify young students who may have difficulty reading and help bring them up to their grade level so they can continue on a successful education path," said Senator Collins.
Reading First was designed to help districts and schools improve student achievement in reading through the application of scientifically based reading research. This program will help states, districts and schools apply this research-and proven instructional and assessment tools consistent with this research-to ensure that all children can read at grade level or above by the end of third grade.
Last year, Senator Collins sponsored the legislation in the US Senate that provides funding for Reading First.