CORE Announces Laura Bush Visits Chipman Middle School, Alameda California, for Reading Achievement.

EMERYVILLE, Calif. -- CORE (Consortium on Reading Excellence) is proud to announce that Laura Bush visited its client Chipman Middle School, Alameda, CA, as part of her Helping America's Youth initiative. Chipman was selected based on achievement results from an intensive reading program. Chipman is one of only three schools in California visited by Mrs. Bush, and the only middle school. Less than two years ago nearly 50 percent of students at Chipman were reading below grade level. After devoting three periods daily to reading, spelling and writing for at-risk students, that rate has dropped to 12 percent. Chipman has more than 700 students, many from low-income and racially diverse families.

Chipman was brought to the attention of Mrs. Bush by Reid Lyon, chief of child development and behavior at the National Institutes of Health and a partner in the Helping America's Youth initiative. Lyon learned of Chipman's success at the CORE Literacy Leadership Summit in March 2005.

Mrs. Bush observed classrooms and participated in a roundtable discussion that included the CORE consultant who has worked closely with the school.

In 2002, CORE helped the school institute a model of instruction based on assessment and targeted use of research-based instructional materials for three levels of readers, plus English learners. The school also had CORE provide ongoing support for the teachers. Chipman students are identified as benchmark (at or above grade level), strategic (one to two years below grade level), or intensive (more than two years below grade level in reading.) In addition, a fourth group of students, the English Learners are also assessed.

"The onsite CORE support for our teachers was key to our outstanding level of success in reading achievement. It is one thing to learn how to teach reading in the abstract, but it is the ongoing planning, coaching, and practice provided by our CORE Consultant and others that helped our teachers dramatically improve their teaching practice," said Laurie McLachlan-Fry, Principal of Chipman Middle School.

The White House also singled out another CORE client in a ceremony marking the one year anniversary of the No Child Left Behind law. Bush highlighted the turnaround of Disney Elementary School in Burbank, California. Dr. Linda Reksten was the only school principal present at the ceremony, and Disney was the only school highlighted in the speech.

"CORE has been a key partner in our change process," Reksten explained. "CORE showed us how important it was to assess kids throughout the school year, and then make adjustments in teaching to bring each child along." CORE also trained her staff in effective, research-based reading strategies, an experience she reports "was the best training they said they ever had. CORE gave us the nuts and bolts and then led us through a process that got us to where we are today."

About CORE

Founded in 1995 by Bill Honig, President and former California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Consortium on Reading Excellence, Inc. (CORE) serves as a trusted advisor to K-12 schools, school districts, and states as they implement literacy instruction validated by scientifically-based reading research. Through technical advice, professional development, and onsite implementation support, the company builds the capacity of its clients to achieve sustained literacy achievement.

CORE's services lay a foundation of research-based expertise in reading instruction, support the use of tools and materials, and develop literacy leadership among teachers, literacy specialists, principals, and district/state administrators. The company's experience shows that with informed school and district leaders, expert teaching, and well-implemented programs, students can become proficient readers and writers.

CORE's national advisory panel informs CORE services and includes Dr. Scott Baker, Dr. Isabel Beck, Ms. Phyllis Hunter, Dr. Mark Shinn, Dr. Joseph Torgesen, and Dr. Shane Templeton.

Visit www.corelearn.com for more information and announcements.