Direct Instruction, in this case packaged through McGraw-Hill's "Reading Mastery" program, is a highly structured program that groups students by ability--regularly regrouping them, if necessary--and moves them quickly through the material using scripted group drills and other techniques.

Two of the highlighted schools are in Baltimore. In 1994, City Springs Elementary School had no students score satisfactory or above on the Maryland Schools Proficiency Assessment Program, or MSPAP. In 2000, after four years of using Reading Mastery, more than 16 percent of the students scored at the "excellent" level. The other Baltimore school, Roland Park Elementary, saw similarly impressive gains. In 1998, for example, the school's first graders had a mean percentile of 54 on the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills. Two years later, that score was up to 82 percent, and students at every grade improved their reading skills.

"We must continue to spotlight reading programs that are making a positive difference for students," says AFT president Sandra Feldman. "Reading Mastery has been proven effective in teaching students to read, particularly students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds."

In addition to the reading improvements highlighted in the eight schools, the report found that teachers and principals also saw fewer disciplinary problems and lower numbers of students being referred to special education. Moreover, the improved reading skills also spilled over into higher achievement in other subject areas, such as science and social studies.

As with any effective program, Reading Mastery includes heavy doses of professional development for teachers. Program consultants train school staff at the beginning and then on a continuing basis during the year as they observe classroom instruction and offer teachers feedback.

The full report, as well as one on the highly regarded Open Court reading program, is available online at www.mheducation.com.

Many educators spend hundreds--even thousands--of dollars of their own money for books and other classroom supplies. A recent change in Internal Revenue Service (IRS) law now makes it easier for educators to receive a tax break for such out-of-pocket expenses.

The new deduction is available to eligible educators in both public and private elementary and secondary schools who work at least 900 hours during the school year as a teacher, aide, counselor or principal. Under the new law, educators may subtract up to $250 of qualified expenses when figuring their adjusted gross income.

Teachers and other educators are advised to save their receipts and note the date, amount and purpose of each purchase. You do not need to itemize deductions to get this benefit.

Details on this and other new tax law changes are in IRS Publication 3991, "Highlights of the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002," available on the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov or by calling 1-800-829-3676.