Local agency gets reading grant

The state Employment Security Department has awarded $91,000 to Educational Service District 112 in Vancouver to participate in the Washington Reading Corps program within Clark, Cowlitz and Klickitat county schools.

The money will help pay for 30 Washington Service Corps members, who will spend 10½ months to a year tutoring struggling readers. The Service Corps members also will recruit and train Reading Corps volunteers to improve students’ reading skills.

Funding for the grant comes from the federal AmeriCorps and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) programs. Employment Security distributes the money to local communities throughout Washington to cover operating costs and provide stipends to Washington Service Corps members to work on a wide range of public-service projects.

Nearly $2 million is being distributed to school districts, counties, learning centers, housing authorities and non-profit groups to support 24 projects over the coming year. The projects will occur in 23 of Washington’s 39 counties from September 2008 through August 2009.