It's Official--Reading First is Under Investigation

USA Today reported on August 7 that Senator Richard Lugar's office has confirmed that the US DOE's Inspector General has opened an investigation into allegations of impropriety and favoritism (in Iraq they call it profiteering) in the letting of contracts for Reading First's one billion dollars dispensed annually to make sure that phonics fanaticism becomes the operative literacy strategy in American schools. This is part of the letter that Lugar sent to Maggie Spellings on June 10:

"At best, it seems that there has been a lack of clarity" about what programs qualify for funding. "At worst, one or more officials contracted to work for the Department of Education may be working to further their own interests."

Imagine that!