Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D-FL) today visited Meadowlawn Middle School to personally witness a classroom of struggling readers using the locally developed Tune In to Reading program. The school has made the most gains in reading in Pinellas County, going from a “C” school to a “B” school thanks to its partnership with Tampa-based Electronic Learning Products.

Meadowlawn Middle School is an “inner-city school” where almost 20 different cultures are represented. Teacher Joey Miazga helps 250 struggling readers each year with the Tune In to Reading program developed by local entrepreneur Carlo Franzblau.

Tune In to Reading is also running in several Hillsborough County schools, including Belle Witter Elementary, Palm River Elementary School, Temple Terrace Elementary School, and Town and Country Elementary School. Other Florida schools currently using the Tune in to Reading program include: Enterprise Elementary in Cocoa, New River Elementary in Wesley Chapel, and Martinez Middle School in Lutz.

“We all know that the No Child Left Behind law has translated into huge profits for businesses close to the Bush administration. Unfortunately it has not translated into more resources or learning improvements for the deserving students in our public schools,” said Castor. “So it is refreshing to see that schools in the Tampa Bay area are partnering with innovative leaders like Carlo Franzblau and his Tune In to Reading program to bring new and effective tools to our students.”

Castor represents Florida’s 11^th Congressional District, which covers parts of Hillsborough, Pinellas and Manatee counties.