The Harris County Public Library, in partnership with the Houston-based nonprofit Literacy Now, announced April 26 the donation of 750 Chromebooks and Wi-Fi hotspots to families of students in Literacy Now's Reading Intervention program, including those at two local elementary schools.

Literacy Now, which works to provide academic programs across the Houston area, delivered the supplies March 31 to students from Houston ISD's Cunningham and Braeburn elementary schools, which are among the 15 Title I schools within the Reading Intervention program. Students to receive the supplies included those enrolled in kindergarten through second grade.

The supplies were funded by a $30 million grant to HCPL's Connected campaign through the federal government’s 2021 Emergency Connectivity Fund. The campaign, which was launched in February, has a stated mission of providing computers and 5G internet access to residents most in need with help from Google and T-Mobile.

Other Houston schools in the Reading Intervention program include Piney Point, Walnut Bend, Mark White, Neff and Valley West elementary schools. As part of the program, Literacy Now hosts 45-minute sessions at the selected schools twice a week with the goal of helping "new and struggling readers build skills and confidence," according to the nonprofit's website.

www.literacynowhouston.org/our-programs/reading-intervention