Coatesville to Receive Funding Boost for Reading Instruction

Senator Katie Muth Secures Funding for Literacy Instruction in Local Schools

October 24, 2022

The Coatesville Area School District will receive a portion of $3 million in grant funding to support reading instruction, as secured by Pennsylvania Senator Katie Muth.

Coatesville Area School District administrators were present in Harrisburg on Monday, October 24, to speak alongside literacy experts and legislators in the Capitol about the value of the funding as part of its new literacy initiatives. The federal funding was appropriated to the state and will be distributed to local schools through the Chester County Intermediate Unit. It will be distributed to 14 different school districts across Senator Muth’s Senate District, which includes parts of Chester, Montgomery, and Berks County.

Over the last year and a half, Coatesville has made significant strides in strengthening its literacy program. The District has adopted an instructional approach known as “Structured Literacy,” which emphasizes teaching of key literacy concepts like phonics and letter-sound awareness, along with higher-level skills like reading comprehension and writing. The District has also begun focusing its literacy instruction around the international body of scientific research called, “Science of Reading” that examines the most effective methods to help children learn how to read.

“We have so many great foundational pieces now in place,” said Casandra Jones, Administrator on Assignment who has been leading Coatesville’s literacy initiatives. “The additional funds will help us to continue this work that we see is already making a significant difference for our students.”

The District’s own student assessment data shows significant gains in reading over the last year across kindergarten through seventh grade. As an example, the number of first grade students reading at or above expected state reading standards increased by 30 percentage points from the fall of the 2021-22 school year to the fall of the 2022-23 (current) school year. 

“Our teachers and administrators have been working very hard to align our classroom instruction with what research shows us works best for students,” said Jones. “Now, armed with a growing knowledge of research-based practices and high-quality programs, we expect to see continual improvement in student achievement. We are very grateful to Senator Muth for securing this additional funding that will help us to continue these efforts.”  

 
Casandra Jones (CASD Administrator on Assignment - ELA & Social Studies); Senator Katie Muth;
Jason Palaia (CASD Director of Educational Services)