Richmond Early Read First (RERF)

RERF is an interdisciplinary, university, and community partnership that is designed to enhance the VCU Child Development Center’s curriculum in promoting a center of excellence by providing high-quality preschool education, and serve as a permanent model of scientifically-based early literacy instruction in Virginia.

This partnership includes the VCU School of Social Work (VCU Head Start Program), the Virginia Literacy Institute, and VCU School of Education (Department of Teaching and Learning).  Through the use of instructional strategies and curricula selected from scientifically-based reading research (SBRR); focused staff development to improve literacy environments; and increased family involvement, the RERF program will promote preschoolers’ successful transition to kindergarten with the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary for successful literacy development.

The goals of the RERF Grant are to:

• Provide 3- to 5-year-old children with high quality, print-rich learning environments in which they can develop skills needed for successful transition into kindergarten.

• Provide ongoing professional development and mentoring for preschool teachers so that they can gain mastery of research-based theory and instruction.

• Engage parents in training and consultation, which help them gain knowledge and experience with early literacy strategies they can use with their children at home.

• Work with an external evaluator to conduct assessments and evaluations to identify children at-risk for future reading difficulties, and to support literacy learning for all children in the program.