West Virginia Program In Jeopardy

Publication: Logan Banner
Date: May 19, 2011

Summary: Because of the recent elimination of direct funding for NWP, Coalfield Writers, a local rural satellite of the Marshall University Writing Project, will likely stop producing the youth programs that has been its hallmark since the early 1990s.

Excerpt from Article

Coalfield Writers, the local rural satellite of the National Writing Project, will be affected by the loss of federal funding. Along with losing opportunities to deliver strong professional development programs for teachers, the satellite will also likely stop producing the youth programs that have been its hallmark since the early 90s.

"Because our youth programs are supported through local matching monies, if the federal grant supporting the professional development components of camp are removed, we won't have funds to make the programs cost effective," says Tracy Baisden, Coalfield Writers director. "Right now, because of the underwriting, we can produce a four day summer writing camp for middle school students at a cost to parents of $40 per student. Without the underwriting, that cost would triple, at a minimum. If that happens I think our area's families would not be able to afford having their students in this valuable literacy program."

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Read Local student writing programs in jeopardy in the Logan Banner.