A federal report released May 9 revealed that a former University professor had contractual and friendly relationships with a publishing company whose products he endorsed as effective child literacy boosters.
Reading First, the federal student literacy program enacted under President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act, has been the subject of increasing scrutiny in recent months. Former University professor Edward Kame’enui worked for publisher Pearson/Scott Foresman while directing the University’s Reading First Technical Assistance Center – one of three in the country. Kame’enui’s extensive financial ties with the publisher may have improperly influenced his actions, according to the report.
Earlier this month, Kame’enui resigned from his position as the Commissioner of Special Education Research at the Department of Education in Washington, D.C.
The Chairman’s Staff of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee prepared the report. Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy chairs the Committee.
Reading First recommends to schools textbooks and materials scientifically shown to improve literacy in grades K-3. The materials must meet a set of rigorous requirements to be promoted by Reading First. Although the program seems to work – students in the program who are proficient on fluency tests have risen about 15 percent, education department officials said – perceived mismanagement of Reading First led to a number of federal reports and a congressional hearing last month in Washington, D.C., where it was revealed that Reading First employees made at least $1 million recommending their own products.
The program first unwittingly stole the spotlight last fall when the federal Department of Education Inspector General’s report stated University employees advised states to purchase products they developed themselves. Since then, an ongoing investigation has ensued.
E-mails and documents Kennedy obtained for the purpose of the report revealed Kame’enui entered into three contracts with Pearson/Scott Foresman, all of which resulted in direct royalties for Kame’enui because he was also developing programs for the publisher that were sold to Reading First schools. He also acted and lobbied on behalf of Scott Foresman while directing the Technical Assistance Center. Despite Kame’enui’s claim to the contrary, the report revealed the primary source of Kame’enui’s income since 2003 was not the publication of textbooks, but rather profits obtained through Reading First programs.
The controversy has brought to the forefront restrictions on conflicts of interest in the Department of Education at both the federal and state levels.
Reading First will continue to receive funding under No Child Left Behind through 2008. If NCLB is reauthorized the following year, Reading First will continue to be funded by the federal government. In any case, the committee recommends the Department of Education seriously revamp its conflict-of-interest policies, and Congress adopt new restrictions to safeguard against financial conflicts of interest among federal employees associated with education programs.
“… (T)he findings in this report expose the need for strict conflict of interest controls to address the patterns of bias, mismanagement, and conflicts of interest that existed in the administration of the Reading First program,” according to the report. “These findings are troublesome because they diminish the integrity of the Reading First program. Congress should act to ensure that future conflicts of interest are identified and addressed.”
Joni Gilles, Director of Oregon Reading First, said the ordeal has diverted attention from the positive effects of the program, but at the same time has been a wake-up call for the organization to ensure proper procedures are in place.
“We have tried to make sure that it really has just been about what we’re doing for the kids and the classrooms,” said Gilles. “It’s unfortunate because so many good things are happening and this has really taken the eye off that.”
In an October 2006 statement, Oregon superintendent Susan Castillo said that while the state implemented other child literacy programs, “Reading First has been instrumental in improving reading instruction for and achievement of Oregon’s kindergarten through 3rd grade students in our highest-needs schools.”
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What’s going on?
Reading First is a federal child literacy program enacted by President Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act. It was designed to improve literacy in grades K-3.
The program promotes to schools textbooks and materials that meet a rigorous set of requirements.
Former University professor Edward Kame’enui is being criticized for working for publisher Pearson/Scott Foresman while directing the University’s Reading First Technical Assistance Center.
A federal report released May 9 stated Kame’enui’s extensive financial ties with the publisher may have improperly influenced his actions.
Profits from Reading First have been a significant source of Kame’enui’s income since 2003.
Reading First employees made at least $1 million recommending their own products.