The Lexington County School District One Educational Foundation recently awarded a $25,000 Bucks for Books Grant to Lexington County School District One. This grant will support literacy efforts in all 17 elementary schools in the district this year.
The grant funds will specifically enable all kindergarten teachers in Lexington District One to purchase decodable texts, or books that teach reading using phonic skills, for their classroom libraries. A wider range of types of books in each Lexington District One kindergarten classroom will increase student independence and motivation to read.
In addition, this Lexington One Educational Foundation grant will enhance the SC State Department of Education’s required LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) training that was implemented in Lexington District One (and all public schools) to strengthen foundational literacy teaching skills.
Lexington District One’s English Language Arts Coordinator Dr. Candace Lett shared, “Such a significant Bucks for Books Grant this year from the Lexington One Educational Foundation is a tremendous help to support our mission of accelerating reading growth in all of our Kindergarten classrooms in Lexington District One.”
Educational Foundation Executive Director Julie Anderson Washburn stated, “This is the seventh year that the foundation’s Board of Directors has invested in strengthening students’ literacy skills. To date, our Bucks for Books Grants have positively impacted every elementary, middle and high school in our district with a total investment of $160,250 since the 2017-18 school year.”
