Bartow Schools Awarded Literacy Grant

BARTOW COUNTY, GA — The Bartow County School System is among 38 districts across the state that have been awarded Literacy for Learning, Living and Leading in Georgia grants by the Georgia Department of Education.

The L4GA initiative works to improve student literacy learning, State School Superintendent Richard Woods said last week. Georgia received about $61 million through the federal Striving Readers grant competition. Ninety-five percent of funds are sub-granted to 38 districts.

Bartow County schools said it received nearly $2.7 million to bolster literacy initiatives through 2020. The grant will allow the system to join forces with the Bartow Literacy Council to increase access to resources, books, writing supplements, and professional learning for teachers, BCSS noted on its Facebook page.

Funds are allocated for students in schools within a feeder system (including birth to age 5 childcare providers and elementary, middle, and high schools). All awarded districts have community-school partnerships with local organizations, the Regional Education Service Agencies, and teacher preparation programs to collectively improve literacy outcomes.

Sub-granted districts and their community partners were selected through an independent, competitive sub-grant process; they were chosen based on the strength of their applications. The Georgia Department of Education awarded funds to effectively improve outcomes for the largest possible population of Georgia’s students, and the broader L4GA initiative will provide support (including professional learning) for all Georgia school districts.

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“It’s a great day for literacy in Georgia,” Woods said. “I am confident the $61 million Georgia is now able to invest in local schools and communities to support literacy will impact the lives of thousands of students. I commend each L4GA grant recipient – the competition was fierce as we received an unprecedented number of applications. Making sure Georgia students are reading on grade level remains mission-critical, top-priority work for us and I have no doubt these districts – who submitted clear, focused, student-centered plans to improve literacy outcomes – are going to use these funds to make a tremendous difference for kids.”

The $61.5 million Georgia received was the highest awarded received by any state. Georgia was one of three states to receive the funding a second time after the initial grant cycle (2011-2016).

Other L4GA grantees include: Atkinson County, Baldwin County, Ben Hill County, Bibb County, Brooks County, Carrollton City, Clay County, Clinch County, Colquitt County, Crisp County, Dooly County, Dougherty County, Douglas County, Dublin City, Fannin County, Floyd County, Gainesville City, Gilmer County, Glynn County, Gordon County, Jefferson County, Jones County, Lamar County, Laurens County, Marion County, Paulding County, Pelham City, Randolph County, Richmond County, Rome City, Stewart County, Thomas County, Thomasville City, Troup County, Valdosta City, Whitfield County and Wilkes County.

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