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Board accepts $1.56 million Kentucky literacy grant and regional adult-education continuation award
Summary
Nelson County schools will use a $1,560,000 Kentucky literacy grant to expand EL curriculum across grades K–12 and will administer a regional adult-education grant covering four counties; both grants were accepted by the board.
The Nelson County Board of Education voted to accept two grants Wednesday: a Kentucky comprehensive literacy grant totaling $1,560,000 and a regional adult-education continuation grant for roughly half a million dollars.
Dr. Shearhorn, who led the grant presentation, said the literacy grant funds will pay for curriculum materials, professional development and expanded implementation of EL (an evidence-based literacy program) districtwide from preschool through high school. "This is really gonna allow us to expand that professional development... and expand those text sets," she said. At the elementary level the grant will expand EL modules and classroom text sets; Bloomfield Middle School has piloted EL in eighth grade and the grant will support a broader middle- and high-school rollout, including Odell for high-school literacy. The grant also includes family-engagement components.
The adult-education award will continue the district’s Pathway Up program and cover services in Nelson, Washington, Marion and the adjacent county (the transcript identified the four-county service area). Staff explained the adult education grant funds GED and workforce training, certificates and career navigation, including some programming delivered in local correctional facilities. The presentation said the adult-ed grant period is recorded in the transcript as "02/1926 through 02/1928" and that the award is roughly $500,000; staff described it as a continuation of a multi-year regional program.
Board members asked about teacher feedback on the pilot implementations. Presenters said the EL curriculum is a heavy lift for teachers but noted positive early results, increased student engagement with texts and higher PSAT benchmarks among eighth graders. Board members praised the grants' ability to purchase curriculum and fund professional development that the district would otherwise need to cover from general funds.
A motion to accept both grants was made and seconded; the chair called for voices and the motion passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
Ending: Staff said they will implement the grant-funded curriculum over the summer and school year and return to the board with implementation timelines and professional-development plans.
