IMPROVING READING SKILLS FOR 4TH GRADERS IN GRANVILLE AND VANCE COUNTIES, NORTH CAROLINA

<span style="font-weight: 400;">This proposal highlights the urgent need to address the persistently low fourth-grade reading proficiency rates in Granville and Vance counties, North Carolina, where literacy levels lag significantly behind state averages. Recognizing education as an essential social determinant of health, this initiative emphasizes a comprehensive strategy that targets key areas of educational improvement. The proposed approach includes detailed data collection and analysis to accurately identify and monitor students' individual literacy challenges, the implementation of culturally responsive curricula that reflect students' diverse backgrounds and enhance engagement, strengthened partnerships with families and local communities to foster supportive reading environments outside the classroom, and extensive professional development for educators emphasizing evidence-based literacy instruction techniques. By systematically integrating these components, the initiative seeks to significantly raise reading proficiency, thereby improving long-term academic outcomes, reducing educational disparities, and promoting healthier communities throughout Granville and Vance counties.</span>