Holyoke Early Literacy Initiative
United Way of Pioneer Valley, in partnership with the Irene
E. and George A. Davis Foundation, has provided funding and staff support to the City of Holyoke
to support the expansion of the Holyoke Early Literacy Task Force. The focus will be on expanding the engagement of
key stakeholders to meet Holyoke’s early literacy goal of having 85 % of 3rd grade students reading at grade level by 2014.
The UWPV and Davis funding support a newly created position of Early
Literacy Coordinator which will be directly accountable to the Mayor and will
work in collaboration with Holyoke Public School’s Early Childhood Director to
develop and implement the goals and strategic action plan of the Holyoke Early
Literacy Task Force. This initiative, Reading is Power: Holyoke Can Do It, Leer es Poder: ¡Holyoke Puede! is
designed to align the work of the Holyoke School system with community
providers, businesses, government, parents, and other key stakeholders.
Beyond the support to expand capacity, United Way will
remain actively involved with the Early Literacy Task Force and will continue
to provide technical assistance to City leadership.
The Initiative will focus on five key activities:
- Support creation of city-wide task force
- Support creation of early literacy blue print
- Strategic marketing in support of early literacy
- Research and evaluation in support of early literacy
- Program development
Initiative's website: www.HolyokeReads.com
For more information, contact:
Andrew Melendez
Early Literacy Coordinator
melendeza@ci.holyoke.ma.us or 413-322-5516
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