Richmond Early Reading First (RERF), an interdisciplinary, university-community partnership, enhances the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Head Start program by developing centers of excellence that provide high quality preschool education and serve as permanent models of scientifically based early literacy instruction in Virginia. This partnership includes the VCU School of Social Work (Head Start), the Literacy Institute at VCU, and the VCU School of Education (Departments of Teaching and Learning, Special Education and Disability Policy, and the Training and Technical Assistance Center). Through the use of instructional strategies and curricula selected from scientifically based reading research, staff-development-improved literacy environments, and increased family involvement, the RERF program promotes preschoolers' successful transition to kindergarten with the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary for optimal reading development.

The goals of RERF are to:

• Provide 3- to 5-year-old children with high quality, literacy-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 activities that help them gain knowledge and experience with early reading strategies they can use with their children at home
• Conduct assessment and evaluation to identify children at risk for reading difficulties and to support literacy learning for all of the children in the program

The Richmond Early Reading First program is funded by a grant from the US Department of Education Early Reading First program.