Grand Forks school district receives $3.5 million to improve student literacy

Grand Forks Public Schools has received a $3.5 million grant from the federal government to help students improve their skills in reading, writing and speaking.

The funds are from the Comprehensive Literacy State Development grant program of the U.S. Department of Education. The program aims to strengthen literacy skills in children from birth through 12th grade, with an emphasis on helping disadvantaged students, such as those who live in low-income households, are homeless or in foster care and those with disabilities or who are learning English as a second language.

Grant funds will be used to pay for technical assistance and literacy-related professional development activities for educators, according to a school district news release.

Under this grant, the district will hire four literacy coaches -- two for the elementary school level and one each for the middle and high school levels -- to provide literacy-focused professional development activities at each school and meaningful family engagement focused on literacy.

The money will support implementation of key literacy initiatives for children from birth to age 5 and high-quality literacy instruction, as well as an after-school tutoring program for disadvantaged students.

Another component of the grant is developing an “EdCamp,” which involves inviting family members to observe teaching strategies so they can assist students at home, using a learning-center approach to educate on what is being taught in school and provide an understanding of class assignments, timelines and test dates.

The grant, written by Taunya Schleicher, grant writer for Grand Forks Public Schools, is an example of district administrators’ strategic goal “to secure alternative revenue sources aligned with academic initiatives to enhance teaching and learning experiences for students and teachers alike,” said Superintendent Terry Brenner.

Across North Dakota, $41.8 million has been awarded to 20 education sites through the CLSD grant program. Altogether, those sites educate 67% of the state’s public school students, according to Grand Forks school district administration.