News & Media
Louisiana and Virginia Receive Striving Readers Grants to Implement Passport Reading Journeys for Struggling StudentsDALLAS, October 13, 2009 — The U.S. Department of Education recently awarded eight Striving Readers grants, including Louisiana and Virginia. The two states will receive a total of $1,596,913 to implement the middle school reading intervention program, Passport Reading Journeys™, developed by education publisher, Voyager Expanded Learning, Inc.
"Voyager's current collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Education provides supporting data that shows improvements in the students' reading achievement when Passport Reading Journeys is used with fidelity," said Jill Slack, Director of the Literacy and Numeracy Initiative and Striving Readers Project for the Louisiana Department of Education. "The Striving Readers grant will allow us to better understand the specific features of the program that impact the reading performance of our struggling middle school students."
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the Striving Readers program awards competitive grants designed to raise the literacy levels of adolescent students in Title I-eligible schools and to build a strong, scientific research base for identifying and replicating strategies that improve adolescent literacy instruction. The grant period is from October 2009–September 2013 in which time, independent evaluations will collect and analyze data on how Passport Reading Journeys impacts student achievement
"The Virginia schools selected are making progress, but still have a significant number of students reading below grade level," said Patricia I. Wright, Superintendent of Public Instruction for the Virginia Department of Education. "Through the Striving Readers grant, we hope to address the instructional needs of these students while learning more about effective programs to increase adolescent literacy."
Passport Reading Journeys is a proven effective program that contains exciting topics and cutting-edge technology, captures student interest and accelerates reading achievement and academic performance. In addition to providing curriculum for students, a key component of the Striving Readers grants includes the ability for educators to access professional development. Voyager Expanded Learning is considered an industry leader in providing professional development and ongoing support to customers. The Voyager professional development goal is to empower teachers and principals to maximize student potential
The following schools in Louisiana and Virginia will receive funding to implement the Passport Reading Journeys program:
| Virginia | |
| Norfolk Public Schools | |
 |
Azalea Gardens Middle School |
|
Lake Taylor Middle School |
| Richmond Public Schools | |
|
Thomas C. Boushall Middle School |
|
Lucille M. Brown Middle School |
| Roanoke Public Schools | |
|
Addison Aerospace Magnet Middle School |
|
Breckinridge Middle School |
|
Stonewall Jackson Middle School |
|
Woodrow Wilson Middle School |
| Louisiana | |
| Caddo Parish School Board | |
|
Turner Elementary/Middle School |
|
Donnie Bickham Middle School |
| Calcasieu Parish School Board | |
|
Ray D. Molo Middle School |
|
Oak Park Middle School |
| Lafayette Parish School Board | |
|
Carencro Middle School |
|
Judice Middle School |
|
Lafayette Middle School |
|
N.P. Moss Middle School |
| Tangipahoa Parish School Board | |
|
Independence Middle School |
|
Lucille Nesom Middle School |
Recent News
Voyager and 3P Learning Host Fourth Annual World Math Day Competition (more)
Cambium Learning Group Approved as Educational Service Provider for the Colorado Department of Education (more)
Passages Read by Students Exceeds 18 Million on Voyager Ticket to Read Online Program (more)
Learning A-Z Offers Free H1N1 "Swine Flu" Educational Resources for Teachers, Students, and Parents (more)
Students Read 17 Million Passages on Voyager Ticket to Read Online Program (more)
Video Releases
(view)