A new program from the Spartanburg County Public Library and partners could help improve kindergarten readiness countywide thanks to two grants from the Mary Black Foundation and LENA.

The grants and additional funding totaling $89,700 will go toward the implementation of the LENA (Language Environment Analysis) Start program. The program measures the words children hear and speak in the first 32 months of life. Spartanburg County Librarian Todd Stephens said the LENA program would help the library and its partners throughout the county develop new strategies for improving language skills.

“Participating in the LENA grant is important to developing services for young children. Language skills are critical to kindergarten readiness and third-grade reading preparation,” Stephens said. “Through this program, the library and our partners will help identify areas for improvement and future program development.”