Lincoln, Pryor &
Snyder Announce $2.9 Million for Little Rock School
District
Funding to
Support Early Reading Program for Three- &
Four-Year-Olds
Washington
– U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and
Mark Pryor and Representative Vic Snyder (AR-02) announced Thursday that the
Little Rock School District (LRSD) has been awarded $2,978,707 through the U.S.
Department of Education’s Early Reading First Program. LRSD will use the funding
to transform two Head Start centers and one school-based early childhood center
into early literacy model sites, serving a total of 440 three- and four-year-old
children annually.
"Reading and communicating
effectively are the keys to success in the classroom, and the earlier that
children are exposed to these critical literacy skills the better," said Senator
Lincoln. "I applaud the Little
Rock School
District for investing in a program that will place
young children on the path to a bright future."
"This
funding will help hundreds of children start their education on the right foot,"
Senator Pryor said. "I join Little
Rock families in applauding this ambitious undertaking
which I know will provide benefits for these students now and in the
future."
"I am very
pleased to announce this wonderful investment in the future of Arkansas’s children. I
think we often underestimate how important it is to instill the desire to learn
at an early age," said Congressman Snyder. "Providing the tools to succeed will
be great for the students’ morale and, in turn, will make learning an enjoyable
experience as they make their way into grade school and
beyond."
Through the
Early Reading First project, LRSD will transition two Head Start centers and one
school-based early childhood center in southwest Little Rock into early literacy model sites.
Currently, at least 96 percent of the children in these early childhood programs
are eligible for the free and reduced lunch program. In addition, the limited
English proficiency population ranges from eight to 21 percent of the children.
LRSD’s
Early Reading First program seeks to improve children’s oral language and
listening comprehension skills; develop children’s phonological awareness, print
awareness, and knowledge of the alphabet; immerse children in a print- and
language-rich classroom environment; meet the needs of a diverse student
population; and engage parents in their children’s education.
The $2.98
million grant is for the period September 1, 2007, through August 31,
2010.
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