The Washington County Consortium will offer a course titled “Assessing and Teaching Struggling Readers in the Classroom,” available to all grade four through 12 teachers in the county.

The consortium has applied for a “Higher Literacy for Washington County” grant from the Department of Education, which names schools in SAD 19, SAD 37, Eastport, Pembroke, Jonesport, Machias and Wesley, whose teachers will receive special consideration.

The session will be free to any teachers in Washington County who want to take it only as a workshop. Those who want to take it for credit will be required to pay a course fee and to purchase the books.

There are 12 for-credit slots open to teachers for free in the schools named in the grant application. These teachers also will receive $300 stipends. Their schools also will receive a free diagnostic test unless they already have them.

The course will be offered from 8:30 to noon Aug. 15, 19-22; and from 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 15, Oct. 15, and Nov. 17, at the University of Maine at Machias.

Register by phone at 255-1219; fax at 255-1373; or e-mail wcc@maine.edu.