Early Reading First program gets mixed results

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal program designed to give preschoolers a boost in early reading got a mixed report card Monday.

The Early Reading First Program has had a positive effect on children's print and letter knowledge, according to a report released by the Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences.

But the study also found the program has had no impact on phonological awareness, which includes rhyming, or oral language, which includes vocabulary development. The program has led to more professional development for teachers, according to the study.

Early Reading First was created as part of the 2002 No Child Left Behind education law. It is different from the Reading First program, which is aimed at older elementary-school children and has been criticized in federal reports for conflicts of interest and mismanagement.

This from CNN.