The Williamsport Area School District is receiving a $569,900 state grant that matches well with the needs of its students.
The grant will go toward supporting literacy programs in the district from pre-kindergarten to fifth grade. Specifically, the district will use the grant to fund pre-K to grade five its target group.
It is no secret that literacy is a problem in our region and certainly in the City of Williamsport. Without literacy, there is no learning. Without learning, there is no opportunity.
It's a simple and daunting equation.
On the other hand, if the school district can get to kids early and develop their literacy skills, there is hope of learning, which creates opportunity.
District Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Kelley said the grant will allow the district to purchase a new kindergarten through fifth grade core reading program.
But the grant actually can be applied from birth through 12th grade, which is significant. If the district can create resources to get to parents of children at a pre-school age, there is a chance that the cycle of illiteracy that permeates many homes in our region can be reversed.
We trust that the district will take this grant as a unique opportunity to reduce the specter of failure that accompanies illiteracy in our area.
