News from the Senate Majority
Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

Taylor’s Resolution Supports Legislation Addressing Illiteracy

For Immediate Release: March 9, 1998 Contact: Joe Ambrose, Assistant to Senator Robin Taylor, at (907) 465-3873.

Juneau – The Senate Monday unanimously passed Senate Joint Resolution 39 to send a message to the United States Congress that Alaska supports the Reading Excellence Act which provides federal funding to improve reading skills and enhance reading instruction methods nationwide.

Senator Robin Taylor (R-Wrangell) said the Reading Excellence Act, SB 1596, sponsored by Georgia Senator Paul Coverdell will provide $212 million for research, teaching and individual grants for primary and secondary reading instruction. The bill requires that 95 percent of the funds go to actual reading instruction for children, not administrative overhead.

"High literacy rates not only sets Alaska’s children up for success, it dramatically improves Alaska’s capabilities to compete in the global marketplace of the 21^st century," said Taylor. "Supporting this legislation means helping children acquire the reading skills they must have to keep pace in a highly competitive economy."

Taylor noted that grants to parents for tutorial assistance for their children are also authorized in the legislation.

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= Robin Taylor, 55 K