Pennsylvania Department of Education Presents Twelve Pennsylvania Schools with Innovation Incentive Awards

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Deputy Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education Matt Stem recently presented Keystones to Opportunity (KtO) Innovation Incentive Awards to twelve Pennsylvania school districts that implemented best practices, took an innovative approach to teaching literacy, and fostered a culture of reading, writing, listening, and speaking excellence in the commonwealth.

Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera noted that the Keystones to Opportunity program recognizes and celebrates innovation in literacy among Pennsylvania schools.

"Literacy and writing are critical skills that must be fostered and developed in young learners, as they hold the keys to future success," Rivera said. "I congratulate these districts on their achievements and applaud them for their innovative implementation of this important curriculum and for serving as models for schools throughout the commonwealth."

Winning school districts included:

North Penn School District and East Stroudsburg Area School District were recognized for their performance under Category One - Forming Strong Partnerships: Connecting Birth-Age 5 and Kindergarten-Grade 5 to Increase Student Achievement.

Manheim Central School District and Blairsville-Saltsburg School District were recognized for their performance under Category Two – Utilizing Technology Integration to Enhance Literacy in Grades 6-8.

Derry Area School District and Mifflin County School District were recognized for their performance under Category Three – Using Keystones to Opportunity to Enhance College and Career Readiness in Grades 9-12.

Penn Cambria School District and Easton Area School District were recognized for their performance under Category Four – Sustainability: Demonstrating How Keystones to Opportunity Values Will Continue Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond.

Woodland Hills School District and Greencastle-Antrim School District were recognized for their performance under Category Five – Living Your Literacy Vision and Mission.

Urban Pathways K-5 College Charter School and Southern Huntingdon County School District were recognized for their performance under Category Six – Using Family Engagement and Family Literacy to Enhance Student Achievement.

Only KtO sub-grantees were eligible for the awards. Interested KtO districts were required to submit a comprehensive application for consideration.

The Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Program is a federal program aimed at improving literacy outcomes for students from birth through grade 12. Pennsylvania is one of six states to be awarded the competitive federal dollars.  The Pennsylvania initiative, Keystones to Opportunity (KtO), was available to all Local Education Agencies (LEAs) throughout the state, and LEAs were chosen to receive funding based upon a needs assessment and literacy plan.  Fifty-three school districts in Pennsylvania received funding.

MEDIA CONTACT: Nicole Reigelman, 717-783-9802.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Education

Related Links

http://www.state.pa.us