YCSD Awarded $2M Grant for Literacy Programs

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Youngstown City School District has been awarded a $1.96 million grant to support literacy programs in the district.

Funds will be used to provide literacy coaches in Youngstown City Schools and help the district reach the goals outlined in its Reading Achievement Plan, such as those for phonics, vocabulary instruction and background knowledge. The plan was approved by the Ohio Department of Education last spring.

The four-year grant provides $393,740 for programs aimed at kids from birth to age 5, $1.05 million for kindergarten through fifth grade and $525,000 for high school programs.

“This grant was a collaborative effort among the different departments and buildings within the district,” said Christine Sawicki, Youngstown City Schools’ chief of academics. “I’m excited about the opportunities this will provide our scholars and our staff.”

The funds provided by the state education department come from the $42 million awarded to it by the U.S. Department of Education. Roughly 95% of that total will be given to school districts, community schools and early childhood literacy programs. Programs that receive grants will focus on implementing practices that adhere to Ohio’s Plan to Raise Literacy Achievement.

Source: Youngstown City School District

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.