Pennsylvania Education Chief Reads to Second Graders
Secretary Carrie Rowe visited Peters Elementary School as Northern Lehigh School District begins a state-funded structured literacy program.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Primary Education
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Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Carrie Rowe visited Peters Elementary School on Thursday to read to Janet Bashore's second grade class. The visit followed the Northern Lehigh School District's award of a $322,088 Structured Literacy Grant.
Why it matters
The grant is intended to support reading instruction across the district's K-3 classrooms through core materials, screening, intervention resources and teacher training. The visit highlights state attention to early literacy, an area where reading outcomes for young students are closely watched.
The $322,088 Structured Literacy Grant is split into $185,500 for core reading materials, $64,500 for universal screening, $43,600 for intervention resources and $26,400 for professional development. No local funds are required for the listed expenses, and the district has not reported results yet.
The players
Carrie Rowe
Carrie Rowe is Pennsylvania's Secretary of Education, leading the state department that oversees public schools and education policy.
Northern Lehigh School District
Northern Lehigh School District is a public school district in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, serving students in the Washington Township area.
The details
Rowe read the book "Creepy Crayon!" by Aaron Reynolds to second grade students and donated a signed copy to the class, then gave each student a book to take home. Afterward she met with the district's administrative team.
Timeline
Thursday, week of November 3, 2026: Rowe visits Peters Elementary School and reads to students.
2027-28: The district plans to move to the third edition of its Amplify CKLA core program.
Season Trajectory
The Structured Literacy Grant program funds districts to adopt evidence-based reading instruction, and Northern Lehigh's award applies that approach to its K-3 classrooms. The district's multi-year plan, which runs through 2027-28 and beyond, extends the program's commitment to materials and teacher training.
Parents of K-3 students in Northern Lehigh can expect new core reading materials, universal screening and intervention resources funded through the grant. The district's plan covers six years of materials and screening, so the changes are intended to be sustained over several school years.
The takeaway
Early reading support depends on sustained funding for materials, screening and teacher training, not a single visit. The district's six-year plan shows how grant dollars can be stretched across several school years.
What happens next
The district plans to move to the third edition of its Amplify CKLA core program in 2027-28, with about 30 K-3 teachers and reading specialists completing a 36-hour Keys to Beginning Reading course.
Further reading
For more on early reading instruction, explore Primary Education coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TNonline.
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