Tester Announces $8 Million to Strengthen Reading Education in Montana

(Bozeman, Mont.) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester today announced $8 million in federal grant funding for the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) to support reading education across Montana.

The funding comes from the Striving Readers Comprehensive Literary Program and will strengthen pre-literary skills, reading and writing for infants through 12th grade students.

OPI will grant out the money to local Montana school districts.

“Every student in Montana deserves a quality public education and these resources will help our local public schools deliver for our students,” said Tester, a former teacher. “When students have a strong foundation in reading and writing, they will have success in the future.”

As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Tester is a longtime supporter of the Striving Readers Program. He recently voted for legislation that funds the program.