Lakota High School receives literacy grant

Lakota High School has been awarded a $525,000 literacy development grant from the Ohio Department of Education. Though 40 different schools across the state received similar grants, Lakota is the only one within Sandusky County and surrounding areas to receive one, according to a release from the ODE. The funds will be used to develop model comprehensive literacy sites for high school students in traditionally under-served areas, the release states. The 2020 Comprehensive State Literacy Development Grant program has a total of $42 million in funding, provided by the US Department of Education. The money will be used over a period of five years beginning in January 2021. The grant was created as part of Ohio's Plan to Raise Literary Achievement to improve the language skills and literacy development of Ohio's children. 95% of the funds will be distributed directly to local districts, community schools and early childhood education programs, helping children from birth through grade 12 improve their reading and writing skills. Lakota's portion of the grant will be used over a period of three and a half years, starting in January, according to the release. They'll be following state guidelines on use of the money, and school staff will begin attending required state training sessions in a few weeks. Besides supporting professional learning and coaching for teachers and staff, the grant will be used to incorporate literacy further into school curricula. Dr. Chad Coffman, the superintendent of Lakota Local Schools, said the implementation will start at the high school and then work down through the middle and elementary schools. "It's all about helping the kids and improving our instructional strategies," Coffman said. "We're looking forward to elevating opportunities for our kids and classrooms."