Grant seeks to close literacy gaps

Fair-Mont-Egan, Libby, Polson, Ronan, Troy school districts are recipients of grant funding to advance student literacy skills, with a focus on disadvantaged children as part of the Montana Comprehensive Literacy State Development Project.

Last year, Montana received a five-year, $50 million federal Striving Readers Comprehensive State Development Program grant from the U.S. Department of Education, which funds the grants.

The funding will be used to implement evidence-based practices, strategies, and interventions for all children, preschool to grade 12, according to the Office of Public Instruction. Schools receiving funding have outlined plans to improve teaching and learning that will be monitored through a continuous improvement cycle.

In year one, the school districts will be eligible for the following funding amounts: Fair-Mont-Egan, $125,000; Libby, $225,000; Polson, $225,000; Ronan, $225,000; and Troy $150,000.

In year two, the districts will be eligible to spend the following amounts: Fair-Mont-Egan, $250,000; Libby, $450,000; Polson $450,000; Ronan, $450,000; and Troy, $300,000.