The Mary M. Knight School District has been awarded a Washington Reading Corps (WRC) grant for the 2017-18 school year to aid in developing the literacy of its students.

The Washington Reading Corps works to improve literacy within communities, local schools and learning centers in Washington, according to the program’s website, washingtonservicecorps.org.

“Mary M. Knight has a focus on literacy,” Superintendent Ellen Perconti said in an email.

“We know that reading is a key to school and life success and want each of our students to read at grade level and enjoy reading,” she said.

The grant is not for a specific dollar amount, but allows for a WRC member to come to the district and work on reading skills with students. Perconti said that will come out to around 40 hours per week at Mary M. Knight. WRC members typically serve for 10.5 months and 1,700 hours.

“The grant will allow us to find a person passionate about learning to support our students in achieving higher levels of literacy,” Perconti said.

The WRC member will help students to develop as readers, whether that be through individual sessions or in small groups. District interventionist Julie Wright said the method of reaching and educating students will vary depending on individual needs, but that the district doesn’t plan on having groups exceed four students.

“Nothing larger than that. It will be very purposeful intervention,” she continued.

In addition to working with students, the WRC member will work to include the community, specifically parents, in developing the literacy of students.

“We need the community and we’re trying to build those relationships with the community,” Wright said, “and that’s something the WRC member will work toward as well, working to get the parents on board and developing connections with the community.”

Ahead of securing the WRC grant, the district this past January implemented a systematic approach to teaching reading. Wright and Perconti both said they can see real improvements in the growth of their students when it comes to reading.

“It specifically outlines what those kids need, so we know to that level of specificity where the child is lacking or needs additional support so we can help them continue to grow,” Wright said.

Wright went on to mention an elementary student who has seen, “years of growth” in just a short time, resulting from the systematic approach. She hopes that by incorporating a WRC member, even more growth will occur.

“They work on building vocabulary and exposing them to new text, and when WRC comes in, they will be able to work on whatever skill that child needs,” Wright said.

The Mary M. Knight School District applied for the grant last year, but it was not awarded. Wright says they were especially thorough in filling out this year’s application, making sure to outline in immense detail their reasoning for seeking the grant.

“We’re going to have someone who is trained in vocabulary, not just reading; we’re really excited,” Wright said.