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Input on Read to Achieve $200 for K-3 literacy

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Smart Start of Forsyth County distributes books to families in addition to funding Reach Out and Read books at partner sites.

The Department of Public Instruction is distributing a total of $4.8 million from funds allocated by the state in 2016 as part of its Read to Achieve initiative for “literacy support” in early grades. Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson, in his time as superintendent, has emphasized the importance of reading proficiency and early literacy education.

“As we have discussed multiple times, reading on grade level by the third grade is a very important milestone for all students,” Johnson said in Thursday’s press conference. “If they don’t read on grade level by third grade, they will always be working in school to catch up.”

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Meet the author

Liz Bell was an award-winning reporter for EdNC for 10 years from 2016-26, garnering state and national recognition for her leadership on early childcare. She is currently a Spencer Education Fellow at Columbia Journalism School.