Huron School District awarded $3.1 million science-of-reading grant
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Summary
Huron School District received a $3.1 million ELA South Dakota science-of-reading grant to fund in‑state training, literacy coaches and screening tools focused on pre‑K through third grade; the district plans a 90‑minute daily reading block and stipends for staff training over the next four years.
Huron School District announced Nov. 10 that it has been selected for a $3,100,000 ELA South Dakota science‑of‑reading grant aimed at boosting early literacy.
"I am pleased to announce that the Huron School District has been selected for funding in the amount of $3,100,000," Superintendent Dr. Steinhoff told the board. The district received a written notice saying an official award notification will follow from the Department of Education’s grant management office and named Allison England as the district’s ELA South Dakota contact.
District leaders said the grant covers K–12 implementation but will concentrate resources on pre‑K through third grade with the stated goal that children be able to read by the end of third grade. The district plans to use grant funds for universal screeners, new curriculum, stipends for staff to attend training and for literacy coaches who will train teachers and other adults on science‑of‑reading instruction. Steinhoff said training will take place in‑state and that a reading block of about 90 minutes per day is part of the planned model.
Steinhoff also noted a program restriction discussed during a kickoff: literacy coaches funded by the grant are intended to coach adults (teachers and staff) rather than provide direct instructional time with students. "This coaching needs to be training the adults how to do this," he said when explaining the grant’s expectations.
Board members asked whether the grant money could be used to restore library hours cut earlier in the year. Steinhoff said he did not believe the grant allowed funds specifically for library staffing.
District officials said they attended an Oct. 29 kickoff in Pierre; about 48 school districts were eligible for the grant and roughly two‑thirds of them had received award notifications at that time. The district said it will receive detailed terms and requirements in the forthcoming official award notice and will bring implementation policies (including updated job descriptions for instructional and literacy coaches) to the board for approval.
Next steps: district staff will await the formal award notification from the Department of Education, finalize job descriptions tied to grant hiring, and return to the board with implementation details and any required budget or staffing actions.