(KAIR)--Three local area schools are among those that will benefit as part of a grant award totaling more than $3.2 million.

According to a news release, the funds are made available by the Literacy Network of Kansas, a project of the United States Department of Education's Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy program.

The local recipients are the Atchison Public Schools of USD 409, the South Brown County Schools of USD 430, and the Hiawatha Schools of USD 415.

They were among the eight recipients selected from a competitive application process, with the State of Kansas receiving a federal grant of $27 million in October 2017, which the release calls “ one of the largest competitive grants ever received” by the Kansas State Department of Education.

Applications were sought from those districts meeting specific criteria, including serving at least 5,000 students.

Those with less could apply as part of a consortium.

USD 409 Superintendent Dr. Susan Myers, in a news release, says Atchison partnered with the Leavenworth Public Schools of USD 453, and “their closeness and similarity of student needs” allowed the development of a grant that Myers says will be beneficial to students, specifically in the areas of English and Language arts.

In a news release issued by USD 430 Superintendent Jason Cline, it's noted that the South Brown County Schools were selected as part of a nine district consortium, including Hiawatha's USD 415.

The selected recipients will receive more than $3.2 million for literacy support during a three year period.

Four individual districts, and four consortia, representing 32 Kansas school districts and 88,000 children, were named as awardees.

Throughout the three-year grant cycle, a network of resources for educators and families will be developed for future use. The release says “these resources will impact literacy at the state, regional and community levels, as well as providing professional learning opportunities for teachers and families.”