Kensington School Partners Expands Literacy Support for Students and Families in Pontiac
Thanks to support from Eagles for Children, Kensington Church School Partners was able to expand literacy resources and support for students and families in the Pontiac School District during the 2025–2026 school year.
The grant provided assessment tools, classroom and library resources, targeted literacy intervention materials, and take-home resources for families. Together, these investments helped educators better understand individual student needs while giving students and families practical tools to build reading skills and confidence both at school and at home.
A key component of the program was the use of Benchmark Assessment Kits for students in grades 3–8. These tools helped teachers and reading interventionists better understand students’ reading levels, identify areas where additional support was needed, and adjust instruction based on each student’s individual needs.
The grant also helped establish and expand a Literacy Team that provided targeted support to 35 students reading below grade level. Through one-on-one and small-group sessions, students worked with leveled texts and structured literacy materials designed to strengthen foundational reading skills while building confidence.
The progress seen throughout the school year was especially encouraging. Students who began the year struggling with basic sight words were able to master those words, develop new reading strategies, and begin reading books much closer to their grade level.
Teachers and volunteers also observed students becoming more confident and engaged. Students participated more readily in classroom reading activities and demonstrated a greater willingness to pick up books and practice their skills.
Additional books and literacy resources throughout classrooms and school libraries gave students more opportunities to interact with engaging material. These resources supported classroom instruction and read-aloud activities while providing students with more choices for independent reading.
The impact extended beyond the classroom as well. Through the grant, Kensington School Partners provided 250 Literacy Home Kits to families participating in the P.E.A.C.E. Preschool program. Each kit included hands-on literacy materials such as dry erase boards and markers, crayons, writing paper, pencils, magnetic letters and numbers, story cards, and age-appropriate books.
These kits gave families practical ways to support early reading and writing at home while strengthening the connection between classroom learning and family engagement. Parents expressed appreciation for having accessible resources and shared that the materials helped them feel more confident participating in literacy activities with their children.
By supporting educators, students, and families, the Eagles for Children grant helped create a more connected approach to literacy development. Teachers gained better tools to identify and address individual learning needs, students had opportunities to strengthen their reading skills and confidence, and families received resources to continue learning together at home.
The impact of these efforts goes beyond learning to read. Building literacy skills can help children become more confident learners and more willing participants in their classrooms, while giving families additional ways to support their children's education.
Eagles for Children’s investment is helping provide the resources, individualized support, and opportunities students need to grow as readers and learners. Together, we are opening doors through literacy and helping children build the confidence and skills they need to succeed … for the kids!
