STAFF REPORT
Glasgow News 1
Several elementary schools in the Barren County School District have been awarded Read to Achieve grants by the Kentucky Department of Education. This initiative aims to improve reading skills for students in kindergarten through third grade across school districts.
Out of 243 applications, the Barren County elementaries that received this grant are Austin Tracy, Eastern, Hiseville, North Jackson, Park City, Red Cross and Temple Hill elementaries, according to the department. Each grant provides $70,000 per year for two years, with the possibility of renewal for another two years, contingent upon specific criteria including program compliance, student progress, and the availability of funds.
“The Read to Achieve Grant helps us build capacity in our schools,” said Michael Davis, the district’s director of elementary instruction. “Through high quality, research-based professional development and instructional materials, our teachers are better equipped than ever to deliver the kind of literacy instruction that prepares our students for long term success in school and in life.”
Key components of the Read to Achieve grant-funded program include a multi-tiered system of supports for students reading at low levels and comprehensive professional learning programs for instructional staff. Schools must ensure these programs align with the Kentucky Academic Standards for Reading and Writing. Additionally, matching funds are required from the grantees to support the sustainability of the project.
The grants are funded by the Reading Diagnostic and Intervention Fund, established by the Kentucky General Assembly to support accelerated literacy improvement efforts across the state. The Read to Achieve grant awards were announced by the Kentucky Department of Education on Feb. 12. The top 150 applicants were selected for the grant.
Key Facts
– The grant amount is $70,000 per year for two years.
– 150 top-scoring applications were awarded from 243 submissions.
– The program targets K-3 students reading at low levels.
– Funded by Kentucky’s Reading Diagnostic and Intervention Fund.
Michael Crimmins with Glasgow News 1 contributed to this reporting.
