Ravenna Elementary School is targeting its at risk students. School official hope to get them up to grade level by turning them onto reading.

As Jayde McDowell travels through Nebraska's history, she overcomes her own history with reading. 

Jayde McDowell, a fourth grade student, said, "It was really really frustrating because I couldn't sound out the words and I couldn't understand them."

Kim McDowell, Jayde's mom, said, "She was real apprehensive. Nervous about reading. We really had to fight the battles to read at night."

Jayde tested in the bottom 25%, which is well below grade level. Her teacher decided it was time for an intervention. 

At Ravenna Elementary, a new program called "Response to Intervention," helps kids like Jayde. First, teachers identify the problem. For Jayde, it's fluency.

Jackie Cords, a teacher, said, "We have strategies that we us for the particular problem. For example, if it's a problem with comprehension, then we have activities we do."

As often as once a week, it's time for an evaluation. All of that data gets recorded on palm pilots that sync to a central server. The result is an ongoing progress report.

Paul Anderson, the principal of Ravenna Elementary, said "In the old days, you kind of had to go off a feeling... ahhh... I feel that they're doing better. Now, we have the data that shows that the things we're doing are actually working."

If they're not working, teachers brainstorm new strategies. The goal is to get at least 80% of students reading at or above grade level. The intervention for Jayde was a
success. 

"I can't get her to go to sleep at night because she wants to read her books in bed
with her little nightlight," said McDowell.

Jayde is now reading just about at grade level and loves every word. 

 "Sometimes, when I go to bed, I dream about my book," said Jayde.
 

Reporter's Notes by Jessica Phinney:

Ravenna Elementary is a bit ahead of the game. The State Board of Education recommends all
schools have the Response to Intervention program by 2012.