Seventy-three school districts will share more than $12 million in grant funds to improve student reading achievement by enhancing school libraries, Education Secretary Rod Paige announced today.

The Improving Literacy through School Libraries program, part of President Bush's sweeping education reform law No Child Left Behind, is designed to improve reading achievement by providing students with access to up-to-date school library materials, technologically advanced school library media centers and professionally certified school library media specialists.

"President Bush and I believe that solid reading skills are critical to academic success," Secretary Paige said. "We know that every child in every state can learn. And, we've worked with congressional leaders to ensure the funds are there for programs to help our children master reading, which will in turn help them master other subjects.

"Today, I'm pleased to announce that 73 school districts will receive more than $12 million to enhance one of their greatest resources -- libraries. These funds will help schools provide students with more options to learn and improve their reading skills, which will raise academic achievement."

A complete list of grant winners is available on the Web at www.ed.gov/programs/lsl.

The program provides competitive one-year grants to local school districts and other local education agencies in which 20 percent of the students are from families with incomes below the poverty line.

Districts may use the funds to purchase updated school library media sources; acquire and incorporate advanced technology into the curricula; provide professional development for school library media specialists; and provide students with access to school libraries after school hours, such as weekends, evenings and during the summer months.

More information about the Improving Literacy through School Libraries program is available on the Web at www.ed.gov/programs/lsl or by contacting lsl@ed.gov.

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