Houston, Texas - Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas) announces that the Pasadena Independent School District (PISD) will receive a grant of $299,431 from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE).

“Teaching our youngsters to read is one of the most important educational tasks undertaken by our public school system,” Green said. “It sets the stage for a successful life. I’m thrilled about this grant because better and more accessible libraries are a key to superior instruction.”

The PISD will use the money to encourage reading in their schools by increasing access to up-to-date library materials, integrating library materials into classroom instruction, expanding library hours, increasing access to public library resources, and training K-12 library media specialists to improve their collaboration activities.

Kay McBride, coordinator of library services for the PISD, said nine schools serving 9,221 students will benefit from the funding. The schools were selected based on current circulation statistics for their libraries, reading scores, the age of the libraries’ collections, how much money has been spent per student on library materials, how their libraries compared to Texas state library standards, and student access to technology.

“I think it is a wonderful opportunity for us to help kids,” McBride said. I can't wait to get started on getting more books to more kids and getting them more involved in libraries.”

The funds, intended to cover the 2007-2008 school year, will come from the Literacy and School Libraries Program, which is administered by the DOE.

Schools that will receive funding to improve their libraries are South Houston High School, South Houston Intermediate, Queens Intermediate, and Garfield, Bailey, Young, Williams, Jessup and Genoa Elementary Schools.