Did you know?

That according to the U.S. Department of Education, about a third of 2007-08 first-year college students have taken at least one remedial course. That number rises to about 42% at two-year community colleges.

USA Today reports that, education observers worry that the vast numbers of students coming to college unprepared will pose a major roadblock to President Barack Obama's goal for the United States to once again lead the world in college degrees.

According to studies done by the U.S. Department of Education, many secondary schools across the nation aren’t adequately preparing students to excel at college. Universities and community colleges are stepping in to fill the gap by offering remedial college courses in subjects like reading and math.

Reading comprehension is such a critical skill, in college, because textbooks become more complex, leaving many students unprepared for advancement.

Will Taxpayers Pay for the Same Education Twice?

Remedial training is costly. The Alliance for Excellent Education reports that the nation loses $3.7 billion a year due to the fact that students have not learned the basic needed skills, like basic reading, comprehension, and fluency.

According to 2004 Education Department data, students who need remedial classes are more likely to drop out of college. For example, those taking any remedial reading, only had a 17% chance of completing a bachelor's degree,

Remedial Reading programs should be research-based and implemented with fidelity by teachers who have received sufficient training.

Reading concepts should be explicit while moving sequentially from the simplest concepts to the more complex.

For a free instructional reading framework, click here >

Occasionally, educators ask us about the difference, comparisons, or integration of the Reading Horizons online reading program and STAR (Student Achievement in Reading).

About STAR
STAR is part of The National STAR Training Network (NSTN) that represents national and state experts in reading instruction, state and federal policymakers, and practitioners – all working in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education to improve adult reading.

STAR is NOT a reading curriculum. It is a reading reform initiative that includes professional development, tools, and resources that will expand participants' knowledge of effective reading instruction and improve their ability to build local and state adult basic education systems that support reading improvement. 



What is Evidence-based Reading Research?
STAR is based on a body of research that is summarized in a report published by the Partnership for Reading entitled, Research-based Principles for Adult Basic Education Reading Instruction written by John Kruidenier. STAR supports evidence-based reading instruction (Phonemic Awarenes) which integrates the research found in the above report with practitioner wisdom. After reviewing the 130 page document, I pulled out a few little gems to share with your today:

• Adult non-readers have virtually no phonemic awareness or ability.

• Adult beginning readers have difficulty applying letter-sound knowledge in order to figure out new words while reading.

• Phonemic awareness and/or word analysis may lead to increased achievement in other aspects of reading.

• To improve beginning and intermediate readers’ ability to decode regularly spelled words and read familiar sight words, teach phonemic awareness.

• Phonemic awareness training may be most effective if provided immediately to adult non-readers and those just beginning to read.

• To teach decoding of regularly spelled words and recognition of irregularly spelled sight words to adult beginning and intermediate readers, use systematic as opposed to non-systematic phonics instruction.

How Does Reading Horizons Integrate with STAR?
Beautifully. Thank you. Reading Horizons v5 is the perfect complement to STAR effectively addressing comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency. Our online reading software and direct instruction materials offer a proven, time-tested solution that uses systematic, explicit phonics instruction using our unique marking system that gives struggling readers the tools they need to decode unfamiliar words quickly and accurately.

Thousands of teachers have reported the positive outcomes that Reading Horizons v5 has on adolescents and adults with reading problems. Reading Horizons is the preferred choice for remedial reading programs in colleges, correctional facilities, and Job Corps. Follow these links to read Reviews and Success Stories.