Congress decides literacy is a bridge to nowhere

03-15-2011

Blog by Joseph Kahne/Huffington Post

I'm told George Burns once said, "I've been reading so much about the dangers of smoking cigars, that I've finally decided... to give up reading." Apparently, many in Congress find Burns' perspective compelling. House Republicans recently pushed through mid-year budget cuts that eliminate support for major literacy programs. One of the programs is called Reading is Fundamental (RIF). RIF costs taxpayers $24.5 million (that's 25 cents a year from every U.S. taxpayer) and it provides 4.4 million mostly low-income children with free books and programs to support their learning to read at over 17,000 locations across the country. Studies show the approach works. Another of the programs whose budget would be zeroed out mid-year is the National Writing Project (NWP). (more...)

Also: Education Week

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Congress decides literacy is a bridge to nowhere

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