Rowan County Schools was named the winner of the Kentucky Board of Education's 2024 Kevin C. Brown strategic priority award for its work to enhance early literacy across the district, district instructional staff told the board on Feb. 13.

Miss Carver, presenting the instructional update, said the district used a blend of federal and state resources and research-backed curricula to build a comprehensive reading initiative. "We were a little floored," Carver said of the district's inventory of programs and supports, adding that the district coordinated ESSER relief funds, Title I, Title II, Title IV and a reading improvement grant to support the plan.

Carver described several elements the district cited in its award application: adoption of high-quality instructional resources (HQIRs) for K–12, use of digital supports such as Lexia and Reading Plus for personalized learning, schoolwide reading challenges supported by Beanstack, and extended elementary reading blocks (described as a 120-minute daily reading block). The district also invested in LETRS professional development, with participating teachers receiving about 24 hours of training across two years and a $1,000 stipend funded from ESSER.

Carver said the district uses regular data review days and instructional coaching — including walk-throughs and feedback — to support implementation and targeted reading-improvement plans for students who are below proficiency.

Board members praised the work. "The better you read, the more successful you can be," one board member said during the discussion.

The award recognizes districts for measurable, coordinated efforts to improve early literacy; Rowan County officials said the district's combination of funding streams and targeted professional development were central to the submission.