Reading Comprehension

Reading for Understanding
Toward an R&D Program in Reading Comprehension

RAND Reading Study Group
Catherine Snow, Chair Prepared for the Office of Education Research and Improvement (OERI)

Science & Technology Policy Institute

E D U C AT I O N

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The research described in this report was prepared for the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI), U.S. Department ofEducation.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Snow, Catherine E. Reading for understanding : toward a research and development program in reading comprehension / Catherine Snow. p. cm. “MR-1465.” Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 0-8330-3105-8 1. Reading comprehension—Research. 2. Reading—Research. I. Title. LB1050.45 .S57 2002 428.4'3—dc21 2001048905

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PREFACE

One of the most vexing problems facing middle and secondary school teachers today is that many students come into their classrooms without the requisite knowledge, skills, or disposition to read and comprehend the materials placed before them. In an effort to inform the U.S.Department of Education’s Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) on ways to improve the quality and relevance of education research and development, RAND convened 14 experts with a wide range of disciplinary and methodological perspectives in the field of reading. The RAND Reading Study Group (RRSG) was charged with proposing strategic guidelines for a long-term research and developmentprogram supporting the improvement of reading comprehension. This report is the product of that group’s efforts and of the valuable commentary provided by various members of the reading research and practice communities. This report should be of interest to those involved with the planning of education research and development (R&D) programs by public and private agencies, and it should also be ofinterest to researchers who study reading instruction and practitioners who teach reading. This report is the first in a series of three RAND reports dealing with the topic of education R&D. The second report, scheduled for draft publication in summer 2002, will propose an R&D program for mathematics education and the third report, scheduled for draft publication in fall 2002, will address R&Dmanagement issues. Funding for the RRSG research was provided under a contract with OERI. The research was carried out under the auspices of RAND Education and the Science and Technology Policy Institute (S&TPI), a federally funded research and development center sponsored by the National Science Foundation and managed by RAND.

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Reading for Understanding

Inquiries regarding RANDEducation and the S&TPI may be directed to the following individuals: Helga Rippen, Director Science and Technology Policy Institute RAND, 1200 South Hayes Street Arlington, VA 22202-5050 (703) 413-1100 x5351 Email: stpi@rand.org Dominic Brewer, Director RAND Education RAND, 1700 Main Street Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138 (310) 393-0411 x7515 Email: education@rand.org

CONTENTS

Preface...