$536,485 awarded for literacy education in Penn-Delco elementary schools
Rep. Carol Kazeem October 20, 2026 | 1:41 PM
BROOKHAVEN, Oct. 20 – State Reps. Leanne Krueger and Carol Kazeem, both D-Delaware, today celebrated the announcement of state funding that supports implementing a structured literacy curriculum in four Penn-Delco School District elementary schools.
The $536,485 grant will help the schools build the systems, instructional capacity, and evidence-based resources necessary to meet structured literacy requirements under the law.
Aston, Coebourn and Pennell elementary schools in Krueger’s district and Parkside Elementary in Kazeem’s district are all part recipients of the grant.
“Literacy skills are the foundation of all learning, and ensuring our schools have the tools they need to effectively teach our youngest students how to read and understand what they’ve read is essential,” said Krueger. “I’m eager to see this curriculum implemented in our schools and to see how our students flourish as their literacy skills progress.”
“Reading skills are the basis of academic and professional success,” said Kazeem.” The 2024-2025 state tests showed that four out of 10 Penn-Delco students weren’t reading at grade level. This grant will help Parkside Elementary bring structured literacy curriculums into their classrooms to help catch struggling students before they fall behind. This investment in our students gives them the tools they need to succeed in school and elsewhere.”
The grant funds may be used to support:
- Purchasing High-Quality Instructional Materials aligned to Structured Literacy and the Science of Reading.
- Acquiring PDE-approved universal reading screening assessments for students in grades K–3.
- Supporting educator participation in PDE-approved Structured Literacy professional development.
- Developing local implementation plans that align curriculum, assessment, intervention, and professional learning.
- Building sustainable literacy systems through coaching, data-based decision making, and Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS-Reading).
- Strengthening collaboration among district leaders, principals, literacy coaches, and instructional staff to ensure consistent implementation across schools.