GAFFNEY, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Education has awarded a $30,000 Summer Reading Camp Community Partnership Grant to Cherokee Charter Academy (CCA), recognizing its commitment to improving literacy outcomes for students in Cherokee County. The funding will support CCA’s innovative initiative, Patriot Pals: Sparking Literacy in Cherokee County Summer Reading Camp, which will be operated in partnership with the Charter Institute at Erskine.

The grant was awarded following a competitive application process and will fund a six-week summer reading program designed to strengthen foundational reading skills among elementary students. The program will offer at least four days of instruction per week and a minimum of four hours of instruction each day, featuring a blend of targeted reading instruction and engaging hands-on learning experiences.

“We are honored to receive this grant and excited to expand our efforts to ensure every child becomes a confident and capable reader,” said Brad Teague, School Director at CCA. “This partnership with the South Carolina Department of Education enables Cherokee Charter Academy to further our mission of student development and academic excellence.”

Key features of the camp include:

• Use of research-backed formative assessments such as MAP, STAR, or iReady to measure student growth;

• Diverse and leveled reading materials to support personalized learning;

• Reliable student transportation to maximize access;

• Daily engagement through interactive and meaningful literacy activities.

For more information about Cherokee Charter Academy and its educational initiatives, please visit https://www.cherokee.education/.