Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers (KY-05) announced today that Letcher County Public Schools has been awarded a Department of Education grant totaling $332,297 through the Literacy and School Libraries Program. This grant will provide over 1,000 students with programs and resources to improve reading skills and overall achievement in the classroom.

“Encouraging our young people to perform to their best of their academic abilities, and providing them with the proper resources for such performance, is critical to sustaining and improving our communities,” stated Rogers. “In these challenging economic times, our children need every opportunity we can provide them with to give them a solid foundation for the future. By improving our libraries, utilizing new technology and providing our teachers with more resources, we are giving our children and grandchildren what they deserve, a chance to learn and achieve in the classroom.”

Letcher County Public Schools received the grant in order to provide students with increased access to up-to-date school library materials, a well-equipped technologically advanced school library media center, and well-trained, professionally certified school library media specialist to improve literacy skills and achievement of students. Libraries at Letcher Elementary, Fleming Neon Elementary, and West Whitesburg Elementary will be targeted sites for enhancing student reading, literacy, and critical thinking skills, while forging strong collaborations between all teachers and certified librarians. The goal is to better prepare all school students to meet current grade level expectations and provide students and their families with access to community-supported reading enrichment activities at the school libraries before and after school, on the weekends, and during the summer.

Rogers currently serves as a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. Through this role, Rogers supports important initiatives in the Fifth Congressional District.