Bartow County School System leaders celebrate, along with only 18 other districts statewide, the approval of a highly competitive and sought-after grant from the Georgia Department of Education.
“This $1.8 million Literacy for Learning, Living, and Leading (L4) grant truly supports the work of our collaborative teams and their focus on all students reaching proficiency on essential grade-level standards,” says Bartow County School System Superintendent Dr. Phillip Page. “This is the second time in four years that we have been awarded an L4GA grant, and we are excited to further develop the literacy initiatives that we implemented with the first grant.”
Through the extensive grant writing process, literacy goals were identified based on data and local school literacy plans. The funds will, in part, allow the system to provide in-depth professional development for our teachers and brand-new reading specialists and create one-of-a kind StoryTrails inside our local parks.
“We wanted another way for families to share literature together,” says Instructional Technology Specialist Jason Dailey. “With the creation of the StoryTrails, we are eager to promote healthy brain and body development, move from learning to read to reading to learn, and ultimately create a love of reading.”
Bartow County’s first StoryTrail can be found at Manning Mill Park in Adairsville near the playground. You will find a page out of a children’s story book at markers throughout the mile-long scenic trail. Through our partnership with the Bartow County Parks and Recreation Department, you may even see these unique trails at other parks across the county in the coming months.
“This is another perfect example of how collaboration leads to improved literacy outcomes for Bartow County children,” adds Superintendent Page.