BCSD receives Reading First grant

The Brockport Central School District was awarded a highly competitive $2.3 million Reading First grant. The grant, for students in grades K through 3, is a focused nationwide effort to enable all students to become successful early readers. The District will receive $900,000 the first year and will reapply to receive $700,000 for year two and $700,000 for year three.

BCSD became eligible for the federally funded grant based on the number of students receiving free and reduced lunches and schools not achieving the No Child Left Behind targets in English Language Arts. The Reading First grant is based on research that students who are reading by the end of third grade have greater success in their later school careers.

BCSD will utilize the funds to purchase textbooks, supplemental materials, computers and palm handhelds for data collection. The grant will allow BCSD to hire literacy coaches and fund Reading First training. Over the summer, BCSD teachers and administrators will work with Reading First coordinators and literacy training consultants to implement a plan for the 2006-2007 school year.

June 25, 2006