Reading First is an ambitious national initiative to help every young child in every state become a successful reader. This effort is based on high expectations for what can and should happen for all students: that instructional decisions will be guided by the best available research. The Reading First Initiative focuses on putting proven methods of early reading instruction in classrooms. Through Reading First, states and districts will receive support to apply scientifically based reading research - and the proven instructional and assessment tools consistent with this research - to ensure that all children learn to read well by the end of third grade. The Reading First Initiative will provide the necessary assistance to states and districts to establish research based reading programs for students in kindergarten through third grade.

Mississippi was the 29th state to be funded under Reading First. From 2003-2009, Mississippi received approximately $99 million in support of the state's successful implementation of the initiative.