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LINCOLN -- Alcona Community Schools (ACS) recently received over $2 million in grants for infrastructure and the purchase of literacy materials.
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) awarded $224 million in infrastructure grants to 31 Michigan school districts, with $1,992,205 of that total being awarded to ACS, according to a July 17 press release from the MDE.
Michigan schools have infrastructure needs that they haven't been able to fund, the release stated. That is evidenced by nearly $1.8 billion in grant requests and the available funding being able to pay for only 16.5% of the grant requests--with the amount awarded less than what was requested in many cases.
ACS Superintendent Dan O'Connor said that the grant was based on a study by the state. The district was able to enter three infrastructure items in need of repairs in the application.
O'Connor said that the funding will be used for a ventilator replacement, rooftop HVAC units, and exhaust fans.
ACS also received $87,778 in grant funding for the purchase of early literacy materials. The funding comes from the Michigan state legislature and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, according to a July 23 press release from the MDE.
ACS used its grant money to purchase University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) Foundations 1st Edition materials. UFLI Foundations is a program that teaches students the foundational skills necessary for proficient reading, according to the UFLI website.
"It's rooted in science of reading and we're hopeful that provides another layer of support for students at the elementary building," O'Connor said.
The implementation of the science of reading follows Public Act 146 signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Oct. 10, 2024 which will take effect in the 2027-2028 school year.
In addition to that, House Bill 5697 was signed July 21 mandating science of reading training for teachers by the 2031-2032 school year.
Grants for literacy materials were awarded to 537 Michigan school districts for a total of $64.4 million.
Hillman Community Schools, Onaway Area Community Schools District, and Rogers City Area Schools also received grant funding for literacy materials.
Hillman received $10,333 for the purchase of mCLASS with Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS). According to the mCLASS website, the program is an all-in-one system for science of reading-based universal screening, dyslexia screening, progress monitoring, and instruction for grades K-8.
Onaway schools also purchased UFLI Foundations with a grant of $70,079.
Rogers City Schools was awarded $3,577 to purchase Amplify Science of Reading: The Learning Lab, a series of three self-paced, online courses designed to enhance understanding of literacy development and examine research-based practices in the classroom.
Reagan Voetberg can be reached at 989-358-5683 or rvoetberg@thealpenanews.com.