The Chillicothe R-II School District is the recipient of funding to support literacy through a Federal Grant. Chillicothe is selected as a recipient of the U.S. Department of Education’s Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) grant, administered by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Chillicothe Elementary School will receive $45,000 per year, and Chillicothe Middle School will receive $20,000 per year over the next five years to enhance literacy programming and support student achievement. The initiative is closely aligned with DESE’s Read, Lead, Exceed, and the Steps to Success literacy plans. These are aimed at building and sustaining equitable literacy systems from birth through grade 12.
Director of Student Support Services in Chillicothe, Melissa Young says, “Through the initial Read, Lead, Succeed grant, the district has nearly all of its K-3 teachers trained in the Science of Reading.” She says “This new opportunity allows us to put that training into practice and strengthen literacy instruction across the district.”
Grant funds will support professional development, literacy coaching, access to literacy specialists, and family engagement resources— equipping teachers and leaders with evidence-based tools to improve student outcomes.
