Tennessee gives books to young students to encourage reading
December 1, 2022 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Department of Education announced it is partnering with the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation to provide free books to children in kindergarten through second grade.
Kentucky lawmakers vote to end UK literacy center contract
November 11, 2022 GMTFRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A panel of Kentucky lawmakers voted to end a $1.2 million contract with a literacy center based at the University of Kentucky, saying it has failed to meet its statutory duties.
James Patterson donates to PEN America, Howard University
September 27, 2022 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Howard University, PEN America and Scholastic Book Clubs are among the latest recipients of donations from James Patterson, the bestselling author who has given over $100 million to literary and literacy programs.
NC schools agency highlights literacy gains in early grades
August 25, 2022 GMTRALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Early-grade students in North Carolina’s public schools made marked improvements in reading and literacy skills during the last school year, outpacing students in other states evaluated with similar testing, the Department of Public Instruction said Thursday.
Tennessee Education Dept awards $27M in tutoring grants
June 23, 2022 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee education officials have awarded $27 million in grants for five community organizations to start tutoring programs in the 2022-2023 school year.
The state Department of Education says the Tennessee Accelerating Literacy and Learning Corps Community Partner Grant will help provide up to 18,000 Tennessee students in grades 1 through 8 with free tutoring services for English language arts and math.
Mississippi: reading test almost at pre-pandemic pass rate
May 26, 2022 GMTJACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A preliminary snapshot of 3rd graders' literacy proficiency in Mississippi shows a passing rate nearly the same as before the COVID-19 pandemic, the state education superintendent said Thursday.
Mississippi hosts meetings for student literacy testing prep
November 8, 2021 GMTJACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi is hosting a series of meetings for families of students in kindergarten through third grade who want to improve their children’s reading skills and learn more about state testing.
Evers vetoes education bill meant to help ‘at-risk’ readers
November 5, 2021 GMTMADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers on Friday vetoed a plan that would have overhauled how elementary schools work with young children who struggle to read, saying it needs more money to support the changes.
Foundation gifts $1.5M to improve literacy at Detroit school
October 20, 2021 GMTDETROIT (AP) — A foundation named after late Detroit-area philanthropist Archie “Art” Van Elslander is donating $1.5 million to improve literacy at his former high school, officials said Wednesday.
Tennessee picks 5 school districts for reading grant program
September 17, 2021 GMTNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee education officials have selected five school districts to receive $300,000 grants under an early literacy program.
The state Department of Education says the Reading 360 Model Districts include Bristol, Tennessee, City Schools; Jackson County Schools; Lebanon Special School District; Milan Special School District; and Williamson County Schools.
GM to invest $50M in Detroit education, jobs, neighborhoods
September 14, 2021 GMTDETROIT (AP) — General Motors plans to invest $50 million by 2025 to help improve access to education in Detroit, employment opportunities and city neighborhoods.
The automaker said Tuesday that it is working with the city on the initiative and that the funding will go through Detroit-based nonprofits.
Pulitzer Prize winner launching literacy program in Iowa
September 2, 2021 GMTWATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist known for her writing on race is joining with educators in Iowa to launch a free community-based after-school literacy program in her hometown.
Louisiana board stalls literacy-based accountability system
August 17, 2021 GMTBATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana's top public school policymakers Tuesday spurned a push from Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley to move ahead with creation of a literacy-focused accountability system for the state's youngest learners.
Kansas targets early literacy with $15M in pandemic funds
July 15, 2021 GMTTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is setting aside $15 million in federal pandemic funds to improve early literacy, state education officials said.
Kansas Commissioner of Education Randy Watson said Wednesday that early literacy is critical to long-term academic success.
Governor signs K-12 funding budget aimed at creating equity
July 15, 2021 GMTLANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed off on a $17.1 billion K-12 budget Tuesday in Grand Rapids in an effort to close a decadeslong funding gap among school districts in Michigan.
The new budget raises overall funding for schools by 10%, and brings per-student state aid minimum to $8,700 per-student.
New Mexico invests in prekindergarten literacy software
May 11, 2021 GMTSANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico officials are rolling out a new platform that will track progress among preschool children to better prepare them for kindergarten and make it easier for parents to keep tabs...
Florida governor signs bills on literacy, early learning
May 4, 2021 GMTTALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) —
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a pair of education bills into law Tuesday that proponents hope will improve student literacy and early learning programs that prepare children for kindergarten...
Nonprofit seeking applications for summer readers program
April 18, 2021 GMTWATERBURY, Vt. (AP) — A nonprofit that encourages reading and writing among low-income, at risk and rural children in New Hampshire and Vermont is accepting applications for a summer readers program through June 1...
Court throws out major literacy ruling in Detroit schools
May 20, 2020 GMTDETROIT (AP) — A federal appeals court on Tuesday threw out a groundbreaking decision that said Detroit students had a constitutional right to education and literacy, just days after Michigan's governor settled the case by agreeing to seek millions from the Legislature to improve education.
Michigan settles suit after landmark right to read ruling
May 14, 2020 GMTWEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will ask the Michigan Legislature to provide at least $94.4 million to Detroit's public schools to settle a lawsuit that describes the city's schools as “slum-like” and incapable of delivering access to literacy.
Groups promoting news literacy to combat misinformation
January 29, 2020 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — A special effort launched this week is promoting the idea of news literacy education to help the public, particularly young people who have grown up with social media, learn to track down trustworthy information...
Lawmakers consider fate of Idaho’s Common Core standards
January 16, 2020 GMTBOISE, Idaho (AP) — A panel of Idaho lawmakers on Wednesday took testimony involving Idaho's education standards on English and literacy for the state's 300,000 students put forward by the Idaho State Board of Education...
Is teaching writing as important as teaching reading?
July 9, 2019 GMTWhen we think of literacy, we tend to think of reading. Schools, literary nonprofits and philanthropists often focus on encouraging students to be strong readers with solid comprehension skills...
Patterson giving $1.25M for classroom libraries
April 4, 2019 GMTNEW YORK — James Patterson's latest gift for literacy is a $1.25 million pledge to classroom libraries.
On Tuesday, the best-selling author announced the fifth installment for his Patterson Partnership, formed in coordination with Scholastic Book Club.
Savannah Grove Elementary celebrates Family Literacy Night
March 1, 2019 GMTFLORENCE, S.C. -- In observance of Read-Across-America Week and in honor of Dr. Seuss, Savannah Grove Elementary School played host to Family Literacy Night.
Families gathered to enjoy a night of literacy-based activities with school faculty and staff.
BHC schools get federal grant to boost early literacy
November 20, 2018 GMTBULLHEAD CITY — A big federal grant will mean opportunities to boost early literacy in Bullhead City, Benje Hookstra said Thursday evening.
Hookstra, superintendent of the Bullhead City Elementary School District, told governing board members that the grant from the U.S.
Barbara Bush believed literacy could cure other ills
April 20, 2018 GMTAUSTIN, Texas (AP) — On a hot summer day in 1978, as her husband mulled his first presidential run, Barbara Bush headed to Houston's leafy Memorial Park for a jog while she thought about what issues she'd like to focus on should she become first lady...
District to expand early literacy pilot program
April 4, 2018 GMTThe School District of Philadelphia has announced the expansion of its early literacy pilot program.
The program will provide modernized classrooms and materials to pre-kindergarten through third-grade students at 11 additional schools in the 2018-2019 school year.
Efforts grow to help students evaluate what they see online
December 31, 2017 GMTIOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Alarmed by the proliferation of false content online, state lawmakers around the country are pushing schools to put more emphasis on teaching students how to tell fact from fiction...
Putnam Schools wins $28,500 K-3 literacy grant
December 15, 2017 GMTWINFIELD — Putnam County Schools is getting some help in its mission to ensure literacy for young students.
The district has been awarded a $28,500, three-year grant for summer 2018-20 through the Greater Horizon Fund of Kansas City to partially fund the district's K-3 summer reading slide prevention program sponsored by Kids Read Now.
Main Event: United Way finds $76K in ‘Purse’
July 19, 2017 GMTSo many to choose from — 212 in all — in a variety of fun categories. "Mad About Miche." "Wicked Weaves." "A Night on the Town." "Nine to Five."
These were the names of handmade purses, up for bids in a silent auction, at the 12th annual Power of the Purse luncheon.
Fort Bend ISD Literacy Intervention Program shows promise
June 26, 2017 GMTAs Fort Bend ISD works to bring some of its struggling campuses up to par, a new program aimed at improving literacy introduced this past school year is showing promise.
According to data from the program's first year, nearly all of the students in the program showed literacy growth, with anywhere from 40 percent to 63 percent - depending on grade level - achieving a year's worth of growth and from 11 percent to 59 percent meeting benchmarks, according to data from the district.
Little Free Lending Libraries to boost literacy
May 17, 2017 GMTKeller Williams real estate joined the United Way of Southern Cameron County last week to put four Little Free Lending Libraries into service around Brownsville, promoting reading and literacy among young children.
Brownsville Literacy Center works to help public
April 23, 2017 GMTFor 30 years, the Brownsville Literacy Center has dedicated itself to improving the community’s literacy rate by offering courses and sometimes free tuition.
“Thirty years ago, Mary Yturria, Doug Hardy, Christie and Richard Burden and Raul Tijerina felt there was a need for an educational program to help the community, and what (the founders) did was conduct a survey via The Brownsville Herald,” Executive Director Victor Rivera said.
Literacy program to donate 1,000 books to Stamford children
March 23, 2017 GMTSTAMFORD — A company known for its national literacy program is donating 1,000 books to city children in March as part of its “Read to Succeed” month.
KPMG — an audit, tax and advisory firm with offices in Stamford — has distributed three million books nationwide since the inception of its Family for Literacy program in 2008.
East Aiken recognized for excellence in literacy in Aiken County
March 14, 2017 GMTFaculty, staff, students, parents and community volunteers helped East Aiken School of the Arts win a statewide award for its literacy program.
The school, which features an arts-infused curriculum, recently received the S.C.
Donors help Literacy Center thrive
March 1, 2017 GMTTeton Literacy Center staff refused to let $200,000 in state budget cuts last year derail them from their mission: helping valley children and families become literate.
A year after swallowing these cuts — almost a third of the nonprofit’s total funding — the center is thriving, but never completely out of the clear.
Oceana to host community meeting to jumpstart early childhood literacy program
February 13, 2017 GMTThe Community Foundation for Oceana County will be hosting the first strategic doing meeting for the new Read Early, Read Often program Feb. 15 from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
The meeting will be held at the Oceana ESD building, 844 Griswold, Hart.
Literacy: Addressing the challenge
February 12, 2017 GMTHARLINGEN — Araceli placed the golf ball on the tee.
The fourth grader raised the golf club high in the air, swung hard and knocked the ball across the field, kicking up some turf and leaving a divot.
Hawaii Literacy seeking tutors
February 10, 2017 GMTKALAHEO — In December, the Hawaii Literacy program on Kauai had a steady number of tutors who volunteered their time to teach adult students.
The pool of 30 tutors, however, dwindled to the current figure of three.
Tech, literacy get boost in Southeast Texas pre-K classes
November 21, 2016 GMTLocal school districts are upgrading their preschool programs' emphasis on technology and literacy education with the aid of a $1.7 million grant from the state to fund "high quality" pre-K, which aims to better prepare students for elementary school.