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Miami-Dade Students Dramatically Boost FCAT Scores Using Houghton Mifflin Reading; Students in the Chronically Low-Performing Zone Schools Show Greatest Reading Gains

Posted on: Friday, 23 June 2006, 09:00 CDT

Results from the 2006 Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test (FCAT) show that Miami-Dade County Public Schools' students made significant reading gains, outpacing student performance statewide, with a marked increase in the School Improvement Zone.

Identified by chronic poor performance, Zone schools have longer school days and school years, and have implemented Houghton Mifflin Reading as the uniform, structured elementary literacy program to improve comprehension and performance.

Across the district, the percentage of third-graders reading at grade level rose to 71 percent -- a 10-percentage point increase over last year. Moreover, in the 20 elementary schools in the School Improvement Zone, the percentage of students reading at grade level climbed an impressive 17 percentage points. As a result, more than half of the Zone's third-graders -- 55 percent -- now read at grade level. By comparison, about a third of Zone third-graders could read at grade level when the district launched the Zone initiative and began using Houghton Mifflin Reading in 2004.

"A foundation of the Zone is an unrelenting focus on literacy, including a common instructional program across the schools. We have seen remarkable results in 2006 and 2005, which show that these children can learn and these schools can succeed given the right resources and support," said Dr. Rudolph F. Crew, superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

In addition to providing ongoing training and support throughout the school year, Houghton Mifflin also partnered with the district on Reading in Progress, a unique community outreach program to promote literacy throughout Miami-Dade. Reading in Progress engages and educates parents, community leaders and local businesses about the importance of literacy by providing communities with designated spaces to read and by celebrating reading with year-round incentive activities to motivate young readers.

"Houghton Mifflin is deeply committed to improving literacy in Miami-Dade County Public Schools," said Tony Lucki, president and chief executive officer of Houghton Mifflin Company. "Our partnership demonstrates our dedication to student success and to creating unique programs that address needs inside and outside the classroom."

About Houghton Mifflin Company

Boston-based Houghton Mifflin Company is one of the leading educational publishers in the United States, with more than $1 billion in sales. Houghton Mifflin publishes textbooks, instructional technology, assessments and other educational materials for elementary and secondary schools and colleges. The Company also publishes an extensive line of reference works and award-winning fiction and nonfiction for adults and young readers. With its origins dating back to 1832, Houghton Mifflin combines its tradition of excellence with a commitment to innovation. The Company's Web site can be found at www.hmco.com.

Source: Business Wire

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