EDITORIAL COACHES TO THE RESCUE REVIVING READING IN THE LAUSD.

IF there's hope for the failing high schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District, it may be in the 100 full-time reading coaches set to begin work this spring.

A sad reality of the LAUSD is that thousands of students have managed to make it to the the high-school level without ever mastering basic elementary-school literacy. Without the ability to read at an adult level, their prospects for success in the real world are slim.

But as part of Superintendent Roy Romer's $28 million second literary program, the coaches will provide undertrained high-school teachers with instructional strategies and students with remedial help. The district has already added coaches to its primary schools, and with considerable success.

Reading coaches can play a key part in turning the district around, but they're only the beginning. What the district needs is an army of tutors - overachieving students or adults willing to help out - that can work to bring all of its students up to speed.

It's good to see that help is on the way, but much more is still needed.