The Ossining School District has long promoted literacy for its students from the earliest age. Now, thanks to a grant from the New York State Education Department, the District will be able to promote literacy and lifelong learning for the entire Ossining community.

“This grant gives the Ossining School District a wonderful opportunity to enhance adult literacy services in our community, which is a great complement to the services we already provide to our children,” said Dr. Phyllis Glassman, Superintendent of Schools. “We will now be able to expand the scope of the family literacy education programs that we already provide by welcoming the entire Ossining community into the literacy classroom.”

The three-year grant of $199,962 per year will enable the district to provide a wide range of literacy services for all Ossining residents. The Literacy Zone, which will be based at the Park Early Childhood Elementary Center, will include a Family Welcome Center, where people can obtain referrals to collaborating agencies, businesses, financial institutions and health care centers. Adult basic literacy, ESL, GED and citizenship courses will be offered on site, as well as programs/workshops to support health, financial and workplace literacy. A family literacy program will further support parents’ engagement in the school system and their involvement in their children’s education through interactive, intergenerational events and parent education activities.

“I’m so excited that we will be able to extend the support we already provide to the youngest children to the entire community,” said Zoila Tazi, Roosevelt School Principal, who helped conceive the Literacy Zone initiative. “Research shows that a strong partnership between schools and homes leads to better learning for students. This is an opportunity to strengthen our connections with families.”

(Press release courtesy of Maja Tarateta/Ossining school district.)