January 13, 2003

Galveston Independent School District

National education expert, Dr. Robert E. Slavin, co-founder of the Success for All reading model, will visit several Galveston schools on Wednesday, including Parker, Alamo and San Jacinto Elementary Schools.

Slavin is currently co-director of the Center for Research on the Education of Students Placed at Risk at Johns Hopkins University and Chairman of the Success for All Foundation.  He received his B.A. in Psychology from Reed College in 1972, and his Ph.D. in Social Relations in 1975 from Johns Hopkins University.

All nine GISD elementary schools utilize the SFA reading program, implemented by GISD in 1996.  SFA curriculum requires 90 minutes of uninterrupted, daily reading instruction.  Children are grouped, beginning in the first grade, by reading ability rather than age, giving teachers the opportunity to work intensively with students at a specific reading level. 

“The district is truly honored to have Dr. Slavin visit our schools and see first-hand the success of his program at GISD,” said E.J. Garcia, interim superintendent and assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. “His program has made a difference in the reading skills of our students and we have seen growth in student reading achievement."

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