RUMFORD – SAD 43 was one of nine recipients of a $25,000 grant that aims to improve the reading and writing skills of young children and their parents.

This is a first in recent history for the district, said Gloria Jenkins, SAD 43 curriculum coordinator.

The funding comes from the Maine Family Literacy Initiative of which Barbara Bush is the honorary chairwoman.

Jenkins said the money will pay for a part-time family literacy director for the district. An estimated 10 to 12 families will be identified to take advantage of the program, which will start at the beginning of the school year.

“This is a new adventure for the district. We’ve not done much for family literacy,” said Jenkins.

The district does have a strong program in literacy for its elementary children, however.

The grant aims to encourage families of preschool children to read and write together.

The selected families will participate in four specified activities: for the parents, activities such as parenting skills; for children, literacy activities such as making puppets to tell a story, or learning letters; for parents and their children, events such as a winter sports day followed by a story time; and also for parents, helping them improve their reading and writing skills.

The new school-based program will work with other literacy programs offered in the community.

These include Head Start, Even Start, Literacy Volunteers of America and the adult education program at the Region 9 School of Applied Technology.

“Wherever there is a gap, the grant will fill it,” said Jenkins. “We know there is a need there.”

During last year’s round of grants under the initiative, SAD 43 received a $5,000 planning grant, which was used to develop partnerships and resources needed to start a family literacy program.

Another 10 school districts, adult education programs, libraries or social service organizations received $5,000 planning grants.

eadams@sunjournal.com