The State of Tennessee has awarded $8.9 million for the 2019 summer Read to be Ready program. Education Commissioner Candice McQueen announced 218 public-school recipients Thursday, including eleven in the Hog listening area. The grants for the fourth year of the statewide program will go toward month-long tuition-free literacy camps for nearly 9,000 students in need.

“I am proud that once again our state is investing in some of our youngest students who are furthest behind in reading as we work toward the goal that every child is reading on grade level by the time they leave third grade,” Commissioner McQueen said. “This year we are increasing access to our camps by providing additional capacity  to programs so that more students with the highest need can attend.

“These camps play a crucial role in increasing students’ reading skills and motivation as they have shown statistically significant results each year,” she added.

Below are the local schools receiving grant money for the Read to be Ready program:

Cumberland County: North Cumberland Elementary, Pleasant Hill Elementary, Homestead Elementary and Crab Orchard Elementary schools.

Fentress County: York Elementary School

Rhea County: Rhea County Elementary, Graysville Elementary, Spring City Elementary and Frazier Elementary schools

Roane County: Dyllis Springs Elementary and Midtown Elementary schools

This year, some 7,700 first-, second- and third-grade students participated in the program, yielding in creases in reading comprehension, accuracy and motivation.