Two major literacy education grants from La Crosse Public Education Foundation (LPEF) will support the School District of La Crosse’s commitment to the science of reading, providing a research-based approach to literacy instruction. The funding comes via a generous gift from a local anonymous benefactor.
With a $51,000 grant, all kindergarten through second-grade classrooms will receive sets of decodable books. When reading decodable books, students engage in targeted reading practice and building foundational skills with the support of teachers in both group and individual lessons.
With a second grant for $37,000, over 20 teachers in grades 3-5 will attend Morphology literacy training. Teachers will gain tools to help students advance their literacy skills, particularly in morphology, which enhances students’ understanding of word structure and meaning. The district plans to expand this training to all upper elementary teachers over the next several years.
“Morphology is a powerful tool for teachers to help their students gain skills and excel in reading. The LPEF grant allows a significant number of teachers to receive the training in the coming year and we will work to provide this important training to all teachers in the coming years.” said Dr. Engel, Superintendent of the School District of La Crosse. “We are so grateful for this community support that allows us to reach our goal much sooner.”
With these grants made possible by community generosity, all elementary students in the district will have access to enhanced high-quality literacy education. LPEF is honored to facilitate this important investment in literacy education for all students. In addition to these grants, LPEF will award $90,000 in Gold Star grants to educators and provide over $50,000 to meet students’ needs through Random Acts of Kindness to benefit students in the School District of La Crosse this year. Altogether, LPEF expects to provide over $350,000 to the School District of La Crosse in 2024, thanks to the generosity of individuals, businesses, and community partners in our community.