OTTUMWA, Iowa (KYOU) - The Ottumwa school district is one of 28 across the state that received state funding to improve literacy.

District wide about 61-percent of students are proficient in English Language Arts, which is below the state average. But Director of Curriculum Maria Lantz said Ottumwa’s seeing signs of improvement.

“Last year in the Ottumwa schools we had the highest Kindergarten, first grade, second grade literacy achievement yet,” said Lantz.

The grant is part of Iowa’s comprehensive Literacy State development program. It’s intended to ensure reading instruction is effective and that students who are struggling get targeted help quickly.

“What we have been building in Ottumwa schools is a multi-system tier of support around literacy...last spring we knew that this would

See Full Page