PRESS RELEASE
Contact Info
Institute for Excellence in Education, Wendy Larvick, wlarvick@ieeteam.org, (517) 231-5111
YOUNG CHILDREN IN 4 RURAL DISTRICTS TO RECEIVE LITERACY SUPPORT
Michigan Group One of 12 Nationally Awarded Innovative Approaches to Literacy Grant
[Michigan, November 2] — 3- and 4-year-olds in four, rural Michigan school districts soon will have access to early literacy support thanks to a $3.15 million federal grant awarded to the Institute for Excellence in Education (IEE). The ICAN Literacy Project was developed to specifically address Michigan’s widening literacy and academic achievement gap between urban and rural students.
Bridgeport Spaulding Community School District, Hale Area Schools, Oscoda Area Schools and Vassar Public Schools will be provided early literacy services through IEE, one of twelve nationally and the only Michigan recipient of a federal Innovative Approaches to Literacy grant.
“IEE is thrilled to be awarded this competitive grant that will ensure Michigan children in select rural areas will have access to high quality early literacy services,” said Molly Sholten, Interim Executive Director of the Institute for Excellence in Education. “These four districts are ready to partner with us to provide early childhood educators and families with these much-needed literacy services.”
The ICAN (Identity, Confidence, Attention, kNowledge) grant is a five-year project composed of three specific services: Family Outreach, Educator Professional Development, and the establishment of Literacy Hubs.
Families will have access to instruction in early literacy strategies and receive free literacy resources, such as books and games to help them build home libraries. Family engagement nights will begin in the spring of 2024.
Early childhood educators will receive professional development in literacy strategies from instructional coaches on the Institute’s ICAN impact team.
Participating early childhood centers and elementary schools will be the recipient of literacy resources and books to build a Literacy Hub in each of the four communities.
“We are very excited about this opportunity and look forward to collaborating with the ICAN team,” Oscoda Area Schools Superintendent Dr. Scott Moore said.
Information, including the dates, times and locations of future family engagement sessions, will follow in the months ahead. Until then, more information can be found at www.ExcellenceInEd.org/ICAN.
“It’s important that families of 3- and 4-year-olds in these communities are aware of these services,” Sholten said. “We hope they will take full advantage of what these grant funds will offer.”
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ADDITIONAL CONTACT INFORMATION:
Bridgeport-Spaulding Community District, Superintendent Mark Whelton, mwhelton@gobearcats.net
Hale Area Schools, Superintendent Jeffery Yorke, jyorke@haleschools.net
Oscoda Area Schools, Superintendent Dr. Scott Moore, moores@oscodaschools.org
Vassar Public Schools, Central Elementary Principal Lisa Riccobono, lriccobono@vassar.k12.mi.us
