A press conference will be held on Tuesday, October 1, at Rosemont Elementary School in Gaithersburg, beginning at 1:00 p.m. on the release of two new reports on the effect of improvements in kindergarten and first grade on the attainment of early literacy skills.

The press conference is open to staff and the public who wish to learn more about the progress in the early childhood development of reading skills. Two teams of teachers, staff, and principals from Viers Mill Elementary and Washington Grove Elementary also will be participating in the press conference, among others.

The first report analyzes the progress of last year’s kindergarten students (2001-2002), compared to the previous year's class, replicating a major study released this time last year. The second report analyzes the reading skill development in Grade 1 last year of that original group of kindergarten students from the 2000-2001 school year.

Copies of the reports and other materials will be available at the press conference.

Rosemont Elementary School is located 16400 Alden Avenue in Gaithersburg. The event will take place in the media center.