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Montana State schools get $20 million to help students with reading skills

More than $20 million from the federal Reading First grant program will flow into Montana over the next six years to help public school students develop their reading skills, the U.S. Department of Education announced Thursday.

By ALLISON FARRELL – IR State Bureau

While Montana’s fourth- and eighth-graders place near the top of the nation in reading skills, state educators say not all children read at such high levels. In fact, the state will soon release a list of about 50 public schools that are not meeting yearly progress standards.

‘‘We are only as strong as our lowest-scoring students,” said Linda McCulloch, state superintendent for public instruction. ‘‘Research has shown that if a student is not reading at or above grade level by the end of grade three, it is very difficult for them to ever catch up.”

Gov. Judy Martz and McCulloch accepted the $20.2 million grant award from Chris Doherty, director of the U.S. Department of Education’s Reading First program, at the Lewis and Clark Library in Helena.

About $5.6 million of the grant is available immediately and will first go to the schools with the greatest needs this fall. McCulloch said 14,000 Montana students in grades kindergarten through three will benefit this coming school year from the Reading First grant.

Some 40-45 schools will see extra money for reading programs in the first three years of the six-year grant, with 40-45 more schools funded in the last three years. Schools can use the money to buy reading materials, hire reading coaches, perform assessments and conduct professional development workshops, said Nancy Coopersmith, assistant state superintendent of public instruction.

‘‘Montana is turning the economic corner and if we are to finish the job, education is going to play a major role,” Martz said. ‘‘Without the proper reading skills, Montana will not be ready for new challenges.”

Schools must apply to the state if they want to receive some of the money. Workshops are being held next week on the application process. Schools that are awarded money will each receive about $150,000, officials said.

‘‘That’s enough money to make a big difference,” Doherty said.

http://helenair.com/articles/2003/08/01/helena/a07080103_04.txt

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