H.R.2289 Striving Readers Act of 2007

Title: To establish an adolescent literacy program.
Sponsor: Rep Yarmuth, John A. [2] [D-KY-3] (introduced 5/14/2007)      Cosponsors (40)
Latest Major Action: 7/17/2007 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.Highlights: Allots funds to State Educational Agencies (SEAs) on the basis of their relative proportion of needy children aged 5 to 17 and eighth graders underachieving in reading. Requires SEAs, in addition to providing subgrants, to use grant funds to: (1) provide professional development assistance to LEAs; (2) enhance public higher education for students preparing to teach any of grades 4 through 12; (3) recommend improvements to state licensure and certification standards for reading instruction in such grades; and (4) report to the Secretary of Education on SEA and LEA progress in improving adolescent literacy.

Grant eligibility: State Education Agencies may receive grants, and may disperse subgrants to local education agencies, to address the literacy needs of children with disabilities, and students who are learning English proficient. Priority is given to LEAs serving children below the poverty level. Appropriations for this Act start at $2 million in 2008 and increase by $2 million each year thru 2012.

ASPIRA Policy Position

ASPIRA supports adolescent literacy programs.  ASPIRA supports the inclusion of non-profit organizations (in addition to LEA’s) in the program. 

ASPIRA is concerned that the size of the authorization ($2 million) is inadequate to address the growing needs of adolescent limited English proficient students.