Governor Corbett Congratulates Eight Pennsylvania School Districts for Receiving Literacy Innovation Awards

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 20, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Corbett today congratulated eight Pennsylvania school districts for receiving the Keystones to Opportunity Innovation Awards for implementing best practices, taking an innovative approach to teaching literacy, and creating a culture of reading, writing and speaking excellence for students.

Awards were presented to Aliquippa School District, Beaver County; Chichester School District, Delaware County; Curwensville Area School District, Clearfield County; Derry Area School District, Dauphin County; Otto-Eldred School District, McKean County; Southern Huntingdon County School District, Huntingdon County; Tyrone Area School District, Blair County; and Williamsport Area School District, Lycoming County.

"I applaud these schools for implementing new ways to teach students and engage them in the learning process," Corbett said.  "Ultimately, our goal is to increase student achievement and by differentiating instruction and incorporating new teaching methods in the classroom, students can grow academically and be successful in school." 

The Striving Readers: Keystones to Opportunity awards program recognizes schools for implementing innovative ways to increase student achievement and ensure that students are academically performing at grade level.

In September 2011, Pennsylvania was awarded a $190 million, five-year federal Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant to develop a statewide literacy plan and align literacy instruction in pre-kindergarten to grade 12.

Pennsylvania was one of six states that received a grant.

Pennsylvania's initiative, Keystones to Opportunity, was available to all public schools across the state.  Grants were awarded to 55 school districts based on a needs assessment and literacy plan.

Since Governor Corbett took office, Pennsylvania has received more than $280 million in federal grants for public education.  These funds are being used to enhance early education, implement the new educator evaluation system and provide schools with resources to increase student achievement.

Media contact: Tim Eller, 717-783-9802

Editor's Note: Nine awards were presented to eight school districts in four categories based on the following criteria:

Category One – Early Childhood Collaboration Models: awards were presented to districts that take a creative, collaborative and successful approach toward partnering with early childhood education providers.

• First Place: Derry Area School District, Dauphin County.
• Second Place: Tyrone Area School District, Blair County.

Category Two – Local Comprehensive Literacy Plan: Integrating and Sustaining the Work: awards were presented to districts that demonstrate significant improvement in integrating their local comprehensive literacy plan into their day-to-day operations.

• First Place: Curwensville Area School District, Clearfield County.
• First Place: Otto-Eldred School District, McKean County.
• Second Place: Southern Huntingdon County School District, Huntingdon County.

Category Three – Break the Cycle: Families and Schools Partnering for Literacy: awards were presented to districts that created initiatives that involve and advocate for active engagement of parents, families and the community.

• First Place: Aliquippa School District, Beaver County.
• Second Place: Chichester School District, Delaware County.

Category Four – Early IMPACT Award: two awards were presented to districts that demonstrate the greatest impact toward improving literacy outcomes.

• First Place: Williamsport Area School District, Lycoming County.
• Second Place: Southern Huntingdon County School District, Huntingdon County.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

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