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The problems that states have faced implementing the federal Reading First program are outlined in a report by the Congressional Research Service, the policy-research arm of Congress.
The report notes that the $1 billion-a-year program to improve research-based reading instruction in schools required 鈥渟ignificant start-up time 鈥� because the program is complex and many of its requirements are new.鈥� It also highlights criticisms of the program, which has been called overly prescriptive, and allegations that contracts issued under Reading First favored certain consultants and publishers.
