Atmos donates $5K to Madison County Schools

A $5,000 donation from Atmos Energy will help third graders in the Madison County Public Schools read at grade level.

Atmos has donated $5,000 to the Madison County Schools Education Foundation to support early literacy and ensure second- and third-grade students are reading on grade level, according to Robert Lesley, Atmos Energy manager of public affairs. 

“Literacy is the foundation of all learning, and we’re proud to support a program that helps students gain the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond,” Lesley said. “This gift reflects our commitment to Fueling Safe and Thriving Communities by investing in our children’s future.”

The funds will be used to enhance the Summer Reading Academy, a program that provides intensive reading intervention for students struggling to meet literacy benchmarks, Sissy Lynn, president of the Madison County Schools Education Foundation, said.

“Thanks to Atmos Energy’s generosity, more children will receive the focused instruction they need to become confident, capable readers,” Lynn said. “This donation will have a lasting impact on student achievement and academic growth in our community.”

The donation targets third-grade students whose performance on the MAAP-ELA Assessment – commonly referred to as the “third-grade reading gate” – indicates a need for remediation, Lynn said. 

Under Mississippi’s Literacy-Based Promotion Act (LBPA), students must demonstrate they are prepared for fourth-grade reading before being promoted. 

“Research shows that children who are not reading proficiently by the end of third grade are significantly more likely to face academic challenges in later years,” Lynn said

Atmos Energy’s donation is part of its Fueling Safe and Thriving Communities philanthropic initiative, which focuses on supporting students, community heroes and vulnerable neighbors, Lesley said. 

“Through this program, Atmos partners with local school districts and educational foundations to help children reach key milestones like reading at grade level by third grade, while also ensuring they have access to nutritious meals and critical resources,” Lesley said

Lynn said the Summer Reading Academy serves third-grade students who require reading intervention based on their reading gate test results, along with second-graders showing signs of reading difficulties. The program offers “small-group instruction, evidence-based literacy strategies and a supportive learning environment to help close literacy gaps before the start of the new school year.”

The Madison County Schools Education Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was created to generate vital resources that enhance educational opportunities for the students, teachers and staff of Madison County Schools, Lynn said. 

To learn more or make a donation, visit www.mcsef.org.