Deer Creek Elementary has received a literacy award that includes $1,500 to expand reading choices for third- and fourth-grade students, according to Hamilton Southeastern Schools.

The 25th Anniversary Celebrate Your School Award comes from the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning, known as CELL, at the University of Indianapolis. The award program recognizes school communities as part of CELL’s anniversary celebration.

Deer Creek will use the money to expand choice-reading libraries in its third- and fourth-grade neighborhoods. Planned additions include high-interest fiction and nonfiction, culturally diverse literature, books accessible to struggling and multilingual readers, and popular authors and series intended to encourage continued reading.

According to HSE, the recognition highlights Deer Creek’s efforts to build a culture of literacy and help students become confident, independent readers. Those efforts include targeted support for students, along with at-home activities and school events that help families reinforce learning.

Deer Creek and all HSE elementary schools have worked with CELL for the past several years through the Indiana Department of Education’s Literacy Cadre program, the district said.

HSE said Deer Creek also will be featured on CELL’s social media channels and in its newsletter during September.