Silver Valley Unified School District receives $2 million literacy grant
Silver Valley Unified School District officials announced that it was awarded a $2 million literacy grant from the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity.
The Fostering Literacy and Reading Excellence grant will benefit the SVUSD, which serves 74.7% of military-connected students from the Fort Irwin National Training Center and the Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow.
Since COVID-19’s disruptions to education, SVUSD educator observations and student performance data confirm that literacy is the area students most need intensive support.
Through the literacy project, SVUSD will address TK to 12th-grade student needs and measurably increase their literacy skills over the five-year grant.
“We could not be more excited for this incredible opportunity for our students and our community!” said SVUSD Superintendent Jesse M. Najera in a written statement on Monday. “As we continue to recover from the COVID pandemic, this grant brings the resources we need to help our students improve their literacy across all subjects.”
Najera added that the district is grateful to the DoDEA for its ongoing support of its students and the community.
With the grant, resources will be expanded to include: Instructional aides, new iPads for TK-K, multimedia libraries, family book bags and interactive journals, library and classroom books
Strategies will include professional learning, project-based learning, extra-curricular activities, E-reader access and family engagement.
DoDEA's Education Partnership and Resources division strives to ensure all military-connected K-12 students have access to quality educational opportunities through engagement in partnerships with school districts and professional organizations.
The division provides school personnel and stakeholders with evidence-based resources and support to increase understanding and awareness related to the unique challenges faced by military-connected students and families.
Silver Valley USD serves students from Ft. Irwin National Training Center and the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Barstow as well as students from Yermo, Daggett, Newberry Springs and Ludlow.
The DoDEA is a field activity of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. DoDEA's mission is to plan, direct, coordinate, and manage the education programs for eligible dependents of U.S. military personnel and civilian personnel of the Department of Defense.
The DoDEA has congressional authority to provide resources to public schools to support the continuity of education for military-connected students through a competitive grant program.
DoDEA’s vision of “Excellence in education for every student, every day, everywhere” is realized through this partnership with public school districts.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Silver Valley Unified School District receives $2 million literacy grant
