The $50,000 Sparking Early Literacy Growth grant will give the June Harless Center the opportunity to collaborate with the Marshall University Communications Disorders program to study the benefits of having both a teacher and a speech-language pathologist in pre-K classrooms.
The June Harless Center for Rural Education Research and Development at Marshall University has been awarded a $50,000 Sparking Early Literacy Growth grant from the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative, Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, and West Virginia University Foundation. The grant will allow the June Harless Center to work on a collaborative project with Marshall University’s Communications Disorders program to look into the efficacy of there being a speech-language pathologist in classrooms for pre-K students in addition to their usual teacher.
According to an article on Marshall University's website, Dr. Tarabeth Heineman, who serves as the executive director of the Center, was quoted as saying of the opportunity presented by receiving the grant, “Advancing literacy outcomes for children in West Virginia is paramount to the mission of the June Harless Center. We believe that by developing best practices for rich language acquisition in early childhood classrooms, we can support all learners to grow and develop. The Sparking Early Literacy Growth program has provided a wonderful opportunity to work collaboratively and combine the expertise of two departments on campus.”
As part of the Sparking Early Literacy Growth program, the June Harless Center will collaborate with the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative for one year to implement its different aspects. The West Virginia Public Education Collaborative will assign a Sparking Literacy Consultant to help out with the project. On Marshall University’s end, the Communication Disorders program will collaborate with the Early Education STEAM Center and a local elementary school to coordinate activities and professional development regarding literacy and language.
For more information about Marshall University, visit the school’s website.