BELFAST – Waldo County Preschool and Family Services has been awarded a $3 million grant from the Department of Education.

The award was announced by Sens. Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins on Friday. The $3,118,048 grant will be distributed over three years under the Early Reading First Program.

“Initiatives and programs such as the Early Reading First Program are essential to putting Maine’s children on the right educational track and building stronger, healthier communities,” Snowe said. “This grant is a wise investment by the Department of Education. Developing the language and reading skills of preschool-age children, especially those from low-income families, ensures a brighter future for our state and the nation.”

Collins added that “the Early Reading First Program is a valuable tool to help young students get on the right educational track. I have visited the Waldo program and was so impressed with its success in helping low-income children become ready to read.”

Collins is author of the legislation that created the Early Reading First Program. The program supports local efforts to enhance oral language and early reading skills of preschool-age children, especially those from low-income families.