Challenge Preparatory Charter School Awarded $450,000 Literacy Grant

Challenge Preparatory Charter School (CPCS) has been awarded a $450,000, three-year grant through the NYC Charter Literacy Consortium to accelerate reading achievement for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The 2026 grant award is from the Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation.

The competitive grant will support a schoolwide push to strengthen literacy instruction, expand targeted interventions, and ensure their scholars are reading on grade level by the end of elementary school.

The NYC Charter Literacy Consortium partners with 35 organizations to achieve full literacy for all students across NYC charter schools.

As part of the initiative, teachers will receive advanced training in structured literacy practices, supported by expert coaching and ongoing professional learning. The school will also expand additional literacy support for students who need it most, including enhanced before- and after-school programming.

The grant will further fund updates to instructional materials and assessment systems, helping educators better track student progress and tailor instruction to individual needs.

Families will also play a key role in the effort. Through community-focused events and schoolwide literacy initiatives, CPCS will continue its progress towards building a strong culture of reading both in and out of the classroom.

“This is about ensuring long-term success for every scholar,” Rev. Dr. Les Mullings, School Founder and CEO. “Strong literacy skills open the door to all future learning, and this grant helps us deliver on that promise.”

Kentia Coreus, Senior Director of Elementary Teaching and Learning, said, “This grant is an extraordinary opportunity to pour into the children of Far Rockaway. We are excited to bring programs and resources into our community as we grow strong readers who will become tomorrow’s leaders!”

“Receiving the NYC Charter Literacy Consortium grant is a powerful affirmation of our commitment to equity and excellence,” Humma Qureshi, Elementary Principal said. “It allows us to deepen rigorous, evidence-based literacy instruction while ensuring every scholar—regardless of background—has access to the tools, instruction, and support they need to become confident, capable readers.”

Challenge Charter School opened in 2010 and currently serves 1,300 students across four sites in Far Rockaway. Families interested in applying to the school may visit www.challengecharterschools.org.