Exemplary Reading Programs in Illinois Public Schools.

A study was conducted in response to a request from the Illinois State Board of Education to examine closely which reading programs work best for Illinois students and schools. In some Illinois schools, students exhibit consistently high levels of reading achievement--the teaching, learning, and other practices of these schools may point the way to improved reading instruction across the state. The study examined the characteristics of reading programs at schools where students have demonstrated consistently high achievement in reading in grades 1-12. For the study's purposes, "high-achieving" schools are defined as schools scoring in the top 5% of Illinois public schools on the Illinois Goals Assessment Program reading test as well as high performance on a second standardized measure of achievement. Data collection instruments were developed, sites were selected and visited, and data were synthesized, analyzed, and reported. Ten schools participated in the study--3 elementary, 4 middle school/junior high, and 3 high schools; total student population for schools participating was 8,567. Findings suggest there is no one best way to teach reading and that student engagement in learning is valued above curriculum plans and materials. Additionally, classroom teachers (and students) benefit greatly from strong leadership and administrative support as well as from being involved in planning school programs and resource allocations. A key finding was that exemplary programs provide students with many opportunities to read and write during the school day. Includes 11 tables. Appended are: final study list of sites and master list of sites; and data collection instruments. (Contains 11 tables and 44 references.) (NKA)