Reading
Welcome to the Santa Maria Bonita School District
Reading Website!
Reading Webmaster: cknowles@smbsd.net
New: The 2008-2009 Pacing Calendars are here! The link below will take you to the Pacing Calendar page.
2008-2009 Pacing Calendars
NEW pages: California Reading/Language Arts Standards posters for Kindergarten through Sixth Grade.
Standards Page
This link will take you to to resources available on the California State Board of Education's website. You will find internet resources to support your themes and tools to help launch some of the themes.
Resources Link
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open all of the links on this website. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat you may click here to download it.
What is Reading First?
Reading First is a federal grant program with the purpose of ensuring all children learn to read well by the end of third grade. In order to receive the federal grant monies, each state had to formulate a Reading First Plan that was approved by a panel of reading experts for the United States Department of Education.
California’s Reading First Plan ensures that all the necessary components to improve reading instruction are available to California’s highest need K-3 classrooms. These components include:
- Scientifically researched and standards based instructional materials
- Teachers trained to use these materials
- Principals knowledgeable in reading instruction to support the teachers
- Classroom assessments geared to the instructional program that allow the teacher to monitor and improve student achievement of reading skills
A Reading First grant is awarded for a period of three years with the possibility of a three-year extension if substantial progress in reading achievement occurs. Eligibility is based on those local educational agencies (LEAs) with the highest need. Highest need is defined as those LEAs (districts/counties) with 40 percent or more of their second and third graders scoring in categories "below basic" and "far below basic" in reading on the California Standards Test. In addition, 60 percent of their students are counted for allocation of Title I, Part A, funding. Reading First will fund half to three-quarters of the eligible schools within the qualifying LEA. Additional eligibility requirements include:
- LEAs must have adopted and purchased a State adopted reading/language arts instructional program for the 2003-2004 school year.
- A district-wide Reading First Leadership Team must be established.
- Mandatory AB466 training for K-3 teachers will be provided.
- Both the LEA and eligible schools sites will sign assurances relative to implementing and supporting the Reading First grant and LEA Assurances.
School Site Assurances
Local Education Agency (LEA) Assurances
