Introduction:

Ben Hill County Schools, a recipient of the Georgia Striving Readers Grant, is receiving positive acclaim from grant officers for its transformative, countywide PreK-3rd grade reading initiative,“Cane Readers, powered by Footsteps2Brilliance.”

In less than 5 months, students have achieved an average 23% improvement across all 8 measures of the PALS reading assessment.

“This improvement in foundational literacy means we are shifting our curriculum plans to cater to increasingly on- and above-grade-level reading students!” Dr. Haralson, Superintendent, Ben Hill County Schools

Demographics:

                       95% Free/Reduced Lunch

                       47% Minority:

                                   40% Black

                                   53% White

                                    6% Hispanic

                                    1% Multi