Released by Panhandle Area Educational Consortium ——-
Chipley, Florida—The U.S. Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (Office of Academic Improvement Programs) has awarded the Panhandle Area Educational Consortium (PAEC) more than $2.1 million dollars over a three-year period to improve reading for school students in Franklin, Gadsden, Holmes, Jackson, and Taylor counties located in Florida’s panhandle. The project, called “Read with Me!” is designed to increase family literacy activities, particularly reading aloud which is proven to have a positive impact on the brain development in small children. The project will also increase the knowledge of parents about literacy and language acquisition and teach them how to support their child’s reading and writing skill development.
Other essential components of the project will increase book-to-student ratios at participating schools and distribute books to students who have limited access to book ownership. A major portion of the grant will focus on improved professional development for those that teach young children essential reading skills by improving knowledge and increasing literacy-related practices of teachers, library staff and healthcare professionals.
The project is also designed to implement leading technologies into the curriculum by providing e-readers and increasing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) activities in the classrooms.
The grant will target as estimated 4,350 students in the five counties served and will indirectly serve families of the students broadening the reach of the beneficial activities.
PAEC is a legislatively created educational service organization, founded in 1967 to provide cooperative, educational services serving as a support unit to help small school districts with limited resources better serve their students, teachers, and administrators. PAEC currently serves 14 member districts, representing 45,000 students.