CHICAGO, IL. MAY 2, 2006 -- Marking the first time an educational publisher has developed reading curriculum specifically aligned to federal requirements and incorporating a wide range of research-based learning strategies, Pearson Scott Foresman today unveiled Reading Street – an innovative pre-K-6 reading program at the International Reading Association’s annual convention

"Reading Street sets the gold standard on every level," said Paul McFall, president of Glenview-based Pearson Scott Foresman. "We’re excited at its potential to help teachers educate a new nation of successful readers."

Reading Street is the first program tailored specifically to the requirements of Reading First, a nationwide mandate to enable all students to become successful early readers as created by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2002.

Successful Reading Through Scientific Research

Solidly anchored in the most current scientific research, Reading Street focuses on the priority skills that are proven to be indicators of reading success identified by the National Reading Panel " phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and text comprehension.

Created by nationally recognized experts, practitioners, and researchers, Reading Street is designed to help teachers build readers through a wealth of reliable teaching tools for instruction, pacing, assessments, and grouping. It prioritizes skill instruction at each grade level, so teachers can be assured they will focus on the right skill, at the right time, and for every student.

Compelling Literature & New Literacies

Reading Street is designed to help teachers build readers through motivating and engaging literature, scientifically research-based instruction, and a wealth of reliable teaching tools. The program emphasizes ongoing progress monitoring and includes an explicit plan to help with managing small groups of students.

Reading Street includes fiction, expository articles, biographies, poems, and online reading, all focused on driving students toward No Child Left Behind’s mandated Adequate Yearly Progress.

The program acknowledges that learning to read in the 21st Century means more than simply just reading books. Rather, it also integrates such important new literacies as skills for searching the Internet, using e-mail, reading web pages, and using online references and directories.

"Given Reading Street’s solid scientific foundation and stellar list of contributing authors we are fully confident in its ability to help build a new generation of readers equipped for the 21st Century," said Pearson Scott Foresman’s McFall.

Reading Street’s contributing authors include: Dr. Connie Juel, professor of education, School of Education, Stanford University; Dr. P. David Pearson, professor and dean at the Graduate School of Education, University of California, Berkeley; Dr. Ed Kame’enui, prominent education researcher; Dr. Deborah Simmons, professor, Texas A&M University; Dr. Sharon Vaughn, professor, University of Texas; Dr. Donald Leu, professor and the John and Maria Neag Endowed Chair in Literacy and Technology at the University of Connecticut.; Dr. Candy Dawson Boyd, professor, Saint Mary’s College of California’s School of Education; and Dr. Jeanne Paratore, associate professor of education, Boston University’s Department of Literacy and Language Development.

About Pearson Scott Foresman

The world's leading elementary educational publisher of scientifically research-based instructional materials, assessment tools, digital media, and professional development. Pearson Scott Foresman is part of Pearson Education, the world's leading educational publisher and a business of Pearson, the international media company (NYSE: PSO).

Contact
Jami Warner
JWarnerGroup
(916) 761-7699
jami@jwarnergroup.com

Kate Miller
Pearson Education
1-800-745-8489
kate.miller@pearsoned.com