HOPE – The Hope Public Schools has been awarded a $100,000 literacy education grant through the Successful Outcomes for Arkansas Readers (SOAR) program of the Arkansas Department of Education.

HPS Superintendent Dr. Bobby Hart said HPS School Improvement Specialist Carla Narlesky spearheaded the grant application for the district.

“Mrs. Narlesky deserves all the credit for putting this grant together,” Dr. Hart said. “The award of this grant is a bright spot for learning in our district. Thanks to all who played a role in our application and receipt of the grant.”

Narlesky said the grant creates new literacy opportunities.

“Being a recipient of the SOAR grant allows our district to expand the reading opportunities of our students,” she said. “Students in grades 5-8 participate in a Book of the Quarter program while a Reader’s Club has been established for students in grades 9-12.”

The Book of the Quarter is part of the Reading Initiative for Student Excellence (RISE) early literacy initiative of the state of Arkansas. The books are aligned with the Lincoln Learning educational platform used throughout the HPS as the primary virtual instruction platform for the district.

“All students are able to keep the books they read as part of this grant,” Narlesky said. “Also, be on the lookout for a student video ‘Book Talks’ later this year.”

The grant award was announced in connection with funding through the U.S. Department of Education of a $38 million grant to the Arkansas Comprehensive Literacy State Development Program for Pre-K through grade 12 literacy programs.