[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 130 (Monday, October 11, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1880]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1880]]
          START MAKING A READER TODAY (SMART) READING PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PETER A. DeFAZIO

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 7, 2004

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, as Congress looks for innovative solutions 
to educate our Nation's children--our next generation of leaders--I'd 
like to call attention to a nonprofit reading program called SMART: 
Start Making A Reader Today. SMART is making a measurable difference 
for Oregon children who are falling behind. It has tremendous potential 
as a model for the Nation.
  SMART's mission is to hook children on reading at an early age. By 
connecting children with community volunteers for weekly one-on-one 
reading sessions--and giving each student free books to take home and 
keep--SMART cultivates a supportive environment where reading skills 
build quickly and confidence grows just as fast.
  Perhaps most importantly, SMART delivers proven results. Independent 
research shows that children who participate in SMART develop key 
reading skills faster than their peers, and maintain these gains after 
leaving the program. In fact, fifth graders who have been in SMART are 
60 percent more likely than their peers to reach the state benchmark in 
reading.
  SMART began 12 years ago in eight schools and has since grown to 
serve more than 11,000 children annually in 31 of Oregon's 36 counties. 
About 9,000 adults each year volunteer with SMART in more than 260 
public elementary schools.
  SMART's unique track record of mobilizing whole communities to invest 
in their local schools has been pivotal to the program's ongoing 
success. By engaging so many people to make community literacy a 
priority, SMART is helping to create an educated workforce for the next 
generation. It is helping Oregon build a solid economic future.
  Please join me in making SMART and other proven early reading 
programs a funding priority this year.

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