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Innovative Approaches to Literacy

Grant Type
Discretionary grant
Office
ALN
84.215G
Contact
Kristin Mitchell, M.Ed.
202-987-0803
Eligibility
Local Educational Agencies (LEAs)
Non-Profit Organizations
Consortiums
Application Deadline
Application Status
Closed

What's New

The U.S. Department of Education published a Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) in the Federal Register on March 14, 2023 for the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) Program competition, Assistance Listing Number 84.215G. The FY 2023 IAL discretionary grant competition is now closed.

We are pleased to announce that we are awarding over 7.7 million dollars in new awards to 12 grantees. For more information about the new IAL grantees and a description of their proposals, visit our Awards page.

Program Description

The IAL program supports high-quality programs designed to develop and improve literacy skills for children and students from birth through 12th grade in high-need local educational agencies (high-need LEAs) and schools. The Department intends to promote innovative literacy programs that support the development of literacy skills in low-income communities, including programs that:

  • develop and enhance effective school library programs, which may include providing professional development for school librarians, books, and up-to-date materials to high-need schools;
  • provide early literacy services, including pediatric literacy programs through which, during well-child visits, medical providers trained in research-based methods of early language and literacy promotion provide developmentally appropriate books and recommendations to parents to encourage them to read aloud to their children starting in infancy; and
  • provide high-quality books on a regular basis to children and adolescents from low-income communities to increase reading motivation, performance, and frequency.

IAL Program Officers and Grant Portfolios

Kristin MitchellCory Stafford-JacksonAnna Martinez
EmailEmailEmail
1. Books In Homes USA (PA)1. Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GA)1. Board of Education (KY)
2. Philadelphia School District (PA)2. Corbin Independent Schools (KY)2. Tuscaloosa CD Board of Education (AL)
3. Center For Strategic Leadership and Organizational Coherence Inc. (MA)3. Iditarod Area School District (AK)3. Allen County Schools (KY)
S215G210064
4. Jefferson County School District 509J (OR)4. Coosa County School District (AL)4. Dillingham City Schools (AK)
5. Lane Public School (OK)5. South Bend Community School Corp (IN)5. Northwest Arctic Borough School District (AK)
6. Educational Service District 105 (WA)6. Colorado City Unified School District No.14 (AZ)6. Partners for Rural Impact, Inc. (KY)
7. Ypsilanti Community Schools (MI)7. Arts Now, Inc. (GA)7. Cherokee Nation Education Corp (OK)
8. Lansing School District (MI)8. The Language Conservancy, Inc. (IN)8. John V Lindsey Wildcat Academy Charter School (NY)
9. Maryetta School District 22 (OK)9. Pineville Independent Schools (KY)9. The Institute for Excellence in Education (MI)
10. Kairos Academies (MO)10. Real Journey Academies Inc (CA)10. Hyde Leadership Charter School (NY)
11. Texas Education Agency (TX)11. Jackson Public Schools (MS)11. Hornell City School District (NY)
12. NE Regional Education Coop (NM)12. Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District (MS)12. Elmira City School District (NY)
13. Bloomington ISD (TX)13. Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education (AL)13. Grand View Elementary School District (OK)
14. San Antonio Independent School District (TX)14. Russellville Independent Schools (KY)14. Cottonwood School District 4 (OK)
15. Cuero Independent School District (TX)15. Cutler Orosi Joint Unified School District (CA)15. Tuscaloosa CD Board of Education (AL)
16. Shelby County Board of Education (TN)16. Reading Is Fundamental Inc (DC)16. KIPP Kansas City (MO)
17. County of Cherokee School District (OK)17. Allen County Schools (KY)
S215G230064
17. Region One Education Service Center (TX)
18. Stringtown Public School (OK)··

FY 2023 IAL Notice Inviting Applications (NIA)

FY 2023 IAL Competition Timeline

  • NIA Available: March 14, 2023
  • Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: March 29, 2023
  • Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: May 15, 2023

FY 2023 IAL Application Instructions

The IAL Application Package is available for applicants to download and use as a guide only. This document can also be found on Grants.gov. Unless the applicant qualifies for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, all IAL grant applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov.

FY 2023 IAL Application Instructions: PDF

Technical Assistance (TA) Pre-Application Meeting for Prospective Applicants

To assist applicants in preparing applications, the Department will host a TA meeting via Microsoft Teams for applicants interested in applying on:

Tuesday March 21, 2023 at 2:00 pm — 4:00 pm Eastern Standard Time

 

2023 Awards

2021 Awards

Year AwardedGranteeDuration (Years)Year 1 FundingTotal Expected FundingStateApplication
FY 2021Iditarod Area School District5 years$743,263$3,737,689AKS215G210005
FY 2021Dillingham City School District5 years$728,047$3,421,103AKS215G210068
FY 2021Northwest Arctic Borough SD5 years$763,047$3,821,233AKS215G210084
FY 2021Coosa County School District5 years$349,902$1,874,478ALS215G210014
FY 2021Tuscaloosa City Schools5 years$749,988$3,747,379ALS215G210057
FY 2021Colorado City Unified School District5 years$149,472$747,360AZS215G210026
FY 2021iEmpire Academy Director5 years$736,948$3,684,740CAS215G210047
FY 2021Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified SD5 years$745,644$3,705,114CAS215G210087
FY 2021Boys & Girls Clubs of America5 years$699,916$3,568,457GAS215G210003
FY 2021ArtsNow, Inc.5 years$451,338$2,804,060GAS215G210027
FY 2021Savannah Chatham City Pub School Sys5 years$145,142$781,257GAS215G210055
FY 2021South Bend Community School Corp5 years$749,691$3,749,229INS215G210025
FY 2021The Language Conservancy5 years$492,600$2,479,170INS215G210028
FY 2021Corbin Independent Schools5 years$175,000$875,000KYS215G210004
FY 2021Pineville Independent SD5 years$750,000$3,750,000KYS215G210035
FY 2021Middlesboro Board of Education5 years$750,000$3,750,000KYS215G210036
FY 2021Allen County Schools5 years$750,000$3,750,000KYS215G210064
FY 2021Russellville Independent School District5 years$810,607$4,201,324KYS215G210065
FY 2021Ypsilanti Community Schools5 years$744,720$3,728,610MI
S215G210021
FY 2021Lansing School District5 years$747,389$3,743,338MI
S215G210041
FY 2021Kairos Academies5 years$136,540$697,269MOS215G210060
FY 2021Jackson Public Schools5 years$749,992$3,749,861MSS215G210049
FY 2021Starkville Oktibbeha Con SD5 years$471,451$2,463,053MSS215G210051
FY 2021Northeast Regional Educational Cooperative5 years$285,768$1,363,724NMS215G210072
FY 2021Hyde Leadership Charter School-Brooklyn5 years$441,251$2,175,143NYS215G210020
FY 2021Hornell City School District5 years$748,529$3,079,772NYS215G210032
FY 2021City School District of the City of Elmira, NY5 years$458,155$3,289,726NYS215G210034
FY 2021Lane Elementary5 years$397,822$1,989,110OKS215G210011
FY 2021Grand View School5 years$724,006$2,972,030OKS215G210018
FY 2021Cottonwood School5 years$307,863$1,539,315OKS215G210043
FY 2021Maryetta Public School District 225 years$500,131$2,235,826OKS215G210059
FY 2021Tahlequah Public Schools5 years$746,491$3,707,831OKS215G210097
FY 2021Stringtown Public Schools5 years$357,242$1,786,210OKS215G210098
FY 2021Jefferson County School District 509J5 years$144,123$762,101ORS215G210002
FY 2021Shelby County Board of Education5 years$685,872$3,578,398TNS215G210096
FY 2021Education Service Center3 years$2,693,649$8,080,947TXS215G210063
FY 2021Bloomington Independent SD5 years$747,381$3,393,249TXS215G210085
FY 2021San Antonio Independent SD5 years$750,000$3,750,020TXS215G210089
FY 2021Cuero Independent School District5 years$632,755$3,226,156TXS215G210090
FY 2021Educational Service District 1055 years$744,074$3,720,370WAS215G210012

2019 Awards

Year AwardedGranteeYear 1 FundingStateAbstract
FY 2019Lake and Peninsula School District$457,483AKA project to provide literacy education to 12 rural schools in southwestern Alaska.  A total of 441 children from birth through grade 12 will be served along with 48 teachers who will receive professional development.  The project is focused on utilizing technology to provide distance-delivered math and ELA tutoring to students who have not met target benchmarks.  Additionally, summer book distribution will contain STEM-focused books.  An online library will be created to facilitate access to and use of the Alaska digital library.
FY 2019Benton County Board of Education $499,538TNProject focuses on Building Opportunities for Literacy and Life Development (BOLLD) which is a three-year project designed by the Benton County School District to support the “Tennessee Succeeds” and “Read to be Ready” state literacy initiative with an impact on local literacy proficiency and interest in STEM careers.   The project is grounded by four goals: (1) Benton County children will be ready to read by age 5; (2)Benton County children in grades K-8 will be proficient in reading; (3)Benton County students in grades 9-12 will exhibit the reading skills necessary to be college and career ready; and (4)Benton County students in grades 6-12 will be exposed to STEM College and Career information.  Project objectives emphasize building staff, student, and stakeholder capacity for use of research-based balanced literacy practices; building educator self-efficacy; building family self-efficacy for home-based literacy activities; and increasing student interest in and motivation for STEM college and career pursuits and pathways.  The STEM focus will provide students access to video-based STEM career explorations and expanded STEM readings.
FY 2019Jefferson County School District $749,579ORThe Read to Succeed School-Family-Community literacy program is a project designed to a) increase K-12 student motivation and engagement in literacy learning, b) increase access to books by delivering free books (bound, audible and e-books) to children and families, and c) strengthen literacy development through high quality, research-based activities for 2,890 students and their families in a rural and low-performing school district.  Specific approaches in this proposal include: development and implementation of K-12 motivational reading programs; distribution of free, student-chosen books to all 654 students at the Warm Springs K-8 Reservation school; development and implementation of culturally-specific family literacy programs; literacy training for school staff and student workers; and development of two summer literacy programs focused on literacy and STEM.
FY 2019Colusa County Office of Education’s $740,810CAProject is designed to build local capacity to provide, improve, and expand literacy services for birth – grade 3 students in Colusa County, California.  This project will promote literacy on two fronts: 1) in homes, through increased family engagement in literacy activities such as parent training, interactive book reading, book sharing routines; and 2) in schools and libraries, by improving literacy programming and book access, utilizing technology to improve literacy and expand access to educational choice, and expanding professional development opportunities for our early childhood educators.  The applicant plans to utilize the Footsteps2Brilliance® online application to improve literacy through distance learning technology that supplements the educational choice provided at each child’s rural school.

2018 Awards

Year AwardedGranteePRNStateAbstract
FY 2018Stilwell Public SchoolsS215G180062OKProposes to create sustainable solutions to literacy challenges in Stilwell, Oklahoma, improving student achievement on standardized literacy assessments and preparing its educators to continue to support a trend of positive literacy gains.  Activities will include tiered, research-based K-12 literacy instruction with embedded professional development; rebirth of the library media center; home literacy promotion; and cross-curricular science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) coordination.  The proposed project outcomes are to sustainably increase student literacy rates, increase family involvement in school, enhance the school library, provide take-home books for students, and increase access to STEM learning.
FY 2018Hornell City School District S215G180079NYWill build upon its recent work in adopting new assessments and interventions by transforming classroom instruction through the use of the Fountas and Pinnell Classroom system; creating modern and fully-resourced library media centers supported by a certified Library Media Specialist and outfitted with high-quality digital tools to improve student achievement and information literacy; implementing a high-quality teacher professional development and coaching model to support balanced literacy; and supporting family and community involvement through book giveaways and family reading nights.  The proposed project outcomes are to increase students’ independent reading and writing skills; increase students’ access to high-interest, leveled print and digital books inside and outside of school; and increase parents’ capacity to support their child’s literacy development.
FY 2018Lawrence County School SystemS215G180158TNHas developed a project with three focus areas: Academic Enrichment, Family and Community Engagement, and Professional Development. The proposed project outcomes are enhanced classroom environments and school libraries via literacy, science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and computer science materials; gains in literacy skills for Pre-K students and in reading achievement for K-5 students; increased STEM and computer science content knowledge, student use of literacy-focused technology, and engagement in literacy and STEM activities; improved book-to-student ratio; increased access to high quality books at home and parental engagement in home literacy activities; improved collaboration between school library and staff; enhanced instructional practices in literacy, STEM, and computer science; and increased afterschool and summer learning access.
FY 2018Maryetta School District 22 S215G180023OKProposes to collaborate among the library media specialist and teachers to plan pedagogy utilizing library resources; create literacy pacing guides integrating computer science standards; provide Response-to-Intervention Tier 1, 2 and 3 reading interventions; provide training and modeling of literacy strategies and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in the Makerspace Literacy Lab; provide family engagement activities and distribute free books.  The proposed project outcomes are to increase resources and activities to promote early literacy, improve the motivation of older children to read, develop high-performing professional learning communities, and increase student reading achievement, distribution of free books, and high-quality literacy and computer science activities.
FY 2018Erlanger-Elsmere Board of EducationS215G180049KYProposes to provide books to birth through Kindergarten students monthly, and Grades 1 to12 quarterly, for 3,974 students; expand and update libraries in ten schools; provide technology access for students both in and out of school; train teachers to provide new science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)/computer science courses; provide supplies for students to use to learn STEM/computer science; integrate project activities with existing curricula; engage and motivate students through high-quality activities; provide Family Literacy nights; and provide regional professional development in literacy.
FY 2018Montgomery County SchoolsS215G180061NCProposes to leverage technology to ensure rural access through wireless service on buses, community hot spots, and a mobile literacy lab; strengthen literacy development in the classroom through implementation of literacy-focused curricula for Pre-K (OWL) and K-6 (ReadyGen), targeted reading interventions, and sustained professional development; enhance Pre-K to Grade 6 school library programs through collaboration among media staff and teachers, updates to school library collections, improvements to school library staffing and support, and extended school library hours; and provide high-quality books and family literacy activities through year-round book distribution methods to ensure students have home libraries, offering family literacy nights and summer camps, and linking with community events to promote literacy.
FY 2018Russellville Independent School District S215G180069KYProposes to expand supports for families as they learn to develop young readers, explicitly support struggling teachers as they use newly-learned literacy strategies, and fully establish engaging new literacy access points/contexts, especially for older students.  The proposed project outcomes are to increase the number of books distributed and read in the classroom, home and community; and increase early language and literacy skills of young children with read-aloud activities and engaging apps.  Additional students will “catch up” on their reading skills through Read 180 and System44 interventions, and all teachers will begin using a targeted set of literacy strategies across all grades.
FY 2018Grand View SchoolS215G180048OKProposes to expand its use of highly-qualified specialized literacy personnel, expand its use of professional development and literacy coaches, implement a family literacy program, expand its schoolwide book distribution, and implement STEM/computer science instruction that builds literacy.  The project goals are to increase the number of 4-year-old children who achieve significant gains in oral language skills by 6% each year; increase the number of 4th grade students who meet or exceed proficiency on the Oklahoma state reading assessment by 5% each year; increase the number of 8th grade students who meet or exceed proficiency on the state reading test by 5% each year; give students at least four free books each year; and increase the number of books per student in each school by five each year.
FY 2018Bullhead City Elementary School District S215G180119AZAims to implement a high-quality program designed to develop and improve literacy skills for children and youth from birth through Grade 12 in its high-need schools.  It proposes to implement research-based curricula (e.g. Smart Talk, Little Bytes, Code.org, Science Center Outreach) and best practices to increase literacy with fidelity; enhance the math and science curriculum through the integration of computer science lesson plans and activities from Code.org; hire a program staff member to strengthen literacy development across academic content areas and increase collaboration with local public libraries; implement a comprehensive book (print and electronic) distribution program; and implement new initiatives to foster daily reading habits (Reading Buddies, summer reading programs, increased programming and membership at local public libraries).
FY 2018Jefferson Davis County School DistrictS215G180130MSProposes to promote early literacy and prepare young children to read through outreach to parents, caregivers and providers with free, age-appropriate book distribution and parent training; improve student literacy skills through implementing a comprehensive literacy program, enhancing summer reading programs and implementing evidence based, appropriate reading interventions for students; increase access to a wide range of literacy resources through community-wide book houses, partnering with community businesses to increase book access, and increasing and enhancing library resources; engage families and communities in student learning by providing high quality, family-focused literacy activities focused on meaningful opportunities for parental and community engagement; improve teacher efficacy by implementing comprehensive training and providing ongoing coaching and instructional support; and integrate college and career science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) pathways into the reading curriculum by implementing a computer science-focused library.
FY 2018CommonLit Inc.S215G180059DCProposes to improve 3rd through 12th grade student achievement in reading and writing, with a special focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)-related literacy.  This project will build a suite of web-based, free digital formative assessment tools to enhance the utility of CommonLit’s high-quality library of open educational resources.  CommonLit is used by millions of teachers and students in over 42,000 schools nationwide, and the free services created under this project will enable STEM, English language arts, and social studies teachers to use research-based best practices, especially related to formative assessment, in literacy instruction.
FY 2018Cuero Independent School DistrictS215G180055TXProposes to increase access to a wide range of literacy resources (both print and digital); provide high-quality childhood literacy activities with parental engagement; strengthen literacy and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skill development; provide educational interventions for all readers with support from school libraries; and provide library resources that support literacy-rich academic and enrichment activities, develop STEM, and are aligned with the college and career-ready academic standards.  The proposed project outcomes include increased book to student ratios, students from Pre-K to 5th grades receiving a book of their own, children aged 0-3 years old receiving a book of their own, an increased number of 4th and 8th graders meeting proficiency on state reading tests, oral reading gains by 4-year-old students, teacher and parent knowledge of Dialogic Reading, and students participating in STEM-focused dual credit courses.
FY 2018Lane ElementaryS215G180133OKProposes to acquire books for both the school library and classroom libraries to improve each student’s reading capacity; update library resources to include specialized and modern literacy tools, ranging from Native American-specific books to wireless reading devices; implement methods to work with parents in home reading techniques; form collaborative efforts between teachers and library staff to enhance classroom efforts; and conduct three types of book distributions, so children can take books home.  The proposed project outcome is to raise the literacy proficiency of every student in Pre‑K through 8th grades.
FY 2018Lansing School District S215G180072MIProposes to expand access to literacy development initiatives for low-income students in order to increase academic performance of students in reading and English language arts; integrate literacy into science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and computer science learning; increase educator capacity to utilize evidence-based literacy education strategies; and increase diversity of age-appropriate literacy resources for low-income students.
FY 2018Washington County School District dba Panhandle Area Educational ConsortiumS215G180046FLProposes to increase family literacy activities, particularly reading aloud, that have a positive impact on the brain development of young children; increase the knowledge of parents about literacy and language acquisition and supporting their child’s skill development; improve preschoolers’ literacy and language skills in better preparation for Kindergarten; improve language arts proficiency, increase motivation to read, and support science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning for students in Grades K to 8; increase book-to-student ratios; distribute books to children who have limited access to book ownership; increase access to bilingual books for Spanish-speaking children; and improve knowledge and increase literacy-related practices of teachers, library staff, and healthcare professionals through professional development.
FY 2018Education Service Center, Region 20S215G180112TXWill have a book distribution for children from birth to Grade 5, increasing the amount of high quality, engaging reading material in home, classroom, and school libraries.  It proposes to build students’ literacy skills, especially through professional development provided to adults (teachers, librarians, families) to support effective reading experiences with texts.  This project supports students in achieving Texas’ English Language Arts Standards through science, technology, engineering, math and coding-focused projects, and focuses family engagement activities on critical aspects of book sharing, reading instruction, independent reading time, and interactive read aloud activities.
FY 2018Shelby County Board of EducationS215G180121TNWill have an increased number of print and electronic resources in its targeted school libraries, new laptop computers that will bring libraries into alignment with Tennessee access to digital materials standards by November 2021, and an increased number of families reporting age-appropriate books in the home.  Additionally, proven, promising or effective science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) integration practices will be more prevalent, and participating librarians and STEM teachers will finalize a sustainability plan for STEM-related digital resource purchases.  Lastly, “STEM in the Library” programming will improve math and science engagement.
FY 2018Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School DistrictS215G180127MSProposes to enrich the home environment of young children with literacy resources and supports, increase students’ access to high-quality print and digital reading materials through book distributions, transform school libraries into 21st century media centers, and decrease educational disparities of racial and economic groups by 20%.  The proposed project outcomes involve improving 4-year old children’s oral language skills, and 4th and 8th grade students’ English language arts assessment performance.
FY 2018New Visions Middle School S215G180128CAProposes to implement the research-based Success for All curriculum and instructional practices with fidelity; enhance math and science curriculum by integrating computer science lesson plans and activities from Code.org into the classroom; hire a Credentialed Teacher Librarian to strengthen literacy development across academic content areas to effectively support reading and writing; implement a comprehensive book (print and electronic) distribution program; and implement new initiatives to foster daily reading habits (weekly book clubs, summer reading programs, increased programming and membership at local public libraries).
FY 2018Coalgate Public Schools S215G180038OKProposes to demonstrate improved early learning outcomes, through an early childhood book distribution program, professional development for teachers of young children, and specialized curriculum for Pre-K students; improved student reading achievement through highly-qualified personnel such as a Reading Specialist, highly-trained teachers, and research-based curriculum; and improved capacity and improved home libraries through parent involvement activities, a book distribution program, a pediatric care component that will distribute additional books, and purchasing an additional 1,300 books, 50 Chromebooks, and 100 periodicals for the library.
FY 2018Bering Strait School DistrictS215G180139AKProposes to expand and strengthen its emerging literacy program for children 1-4 years old through book distribution, teacher training, and parent/child literacy workshops; integrate materials that reflect the cultural makeup of 99% of the student population into the core reading/language arts instructional program; and to have the District Media Center provide students and teachers with 18 science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education kits for Grades K to 8, along with teacher training.
FY 2018Texans Can AcademiesS215G180014TXProposes to increase the literacy skills of all students, particularly at-risk, low-income, minority English Learners and students with disabilities, to overall improve academic performance and create a campus culture and classroom climate that promotes technology integration, capacity building and literacy across all academic content areas.  The project will also focus services to improve students’ early learning and oral language development.  Pre-K educators will receive training on multiple effective, research-based early learning literacy interventions and strategies for students to gain the foundation of literacy skills development.
FY 2018Hydaburg City School District S215G180155AKProposes to improve and expand school libraries’ book, resource, and activity offerings; utilize instructional technology to expand literacy, namely with new computer systems, e-literature, online database access, and programs; use the Read Naturally® Program to improve student literacy levels through professional development, new systems of support, and informational seminars; and improve classroom instruction in 100% of reading and English classrooms through book studies and professional development.
FY 2018Promesa Public SchoolsS215G180010TXProposes to increase the oral and literacy skills of all students, particularly at-risk, low-income, minority, and English Learners to overall improve academic performance, and to create a campus culture and classroom climate that promotes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)/computer programming integration, capacity building, and literacy across all academic content areas.  Activities include providing specific content instruction and instructional techniques, increasing access and range of quality print and electronic literacy materials, providing teacher training, and fostering strong parental engagement.
FY 2018LeFlore Public Schools S215G180036OKProposes to provide book distribution; extended day tutoring; a drop-in program for parents of children aged 0 to 4; early childhood student immersion into hands-on reading.  Additional training from two non-profit organizations will focus on removing poverty barriers and imbedding literacy, science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and computer science cross-curricular efforts; and high-quality curriculum and resources.  Proposed project outcomes are increased achievement of 4-year-olds on DIBELS literacy assessments, increased reading achievement of students on 4th and 8th grade standardized tests, a book distribution program for all students, and an improved book-to-student ratio.
FY 2018Idabel Public SchoolsS215G180032OKWill provide iPad classroom sets, library activities, motivation techniques, book distribution, and student reading achievement through analysis of project components and student outcomes.  The proposed project outcomes include 4 year-olds’ improvement on the Early Learning Quick Assessments for literacy, 90% of 8th graders scoring at least “proficient” on the reading component of the Oklahoma School Testing Program, an increase in book-to-student ratio, and each student receiving two free books annually.
FY 2018Bellevue Board of Education S215G180045KYWill provide books to birth – Kindergarten students monthly and grades 1-12 quarterly; provide critically needed expansion and updating of libraries in eight schools; provide technology access for students both in and out of school; train teachers to provide new science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)/computer science courses; provide supplies for students to use to learn STEM/computer science; integrate project activities with existing curricula; engage and motivate students through high-quality activities; provide Family Literacy nights; and provide regional professional development in literacy.
FY 2018Madison-Tallulah Education CenterS215G180058LAProposes to increase the percentage of parents who engage in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities, increase the performance of students in Grades K to 3 on early reading assessments, increase the percentage of students who meet or exceed the proficiency level on the annual state language arts assessment for grade 3, and increase the percentage of parents who engage in literacy activities both to improve their own literacy and to improve the literacy of their children, through professional learning, literacy nights for parents and the community, book distributions, and support for struggling readers.
FY 2018Yukon-Koyukuk School DistrictS215G180091AKProposes to motivate students to read for school as well as enjoyment by providing access to up-to-date materials in libraries with trained staff, thereby improving the book-to-student ratio and increasing the skills of library aides to effectively work with children. This project will also use the current Parents and Children Together literacy activities to distribute carefully selected, high-quality, fiction and non-fiction science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)-related free books to students, reaching 100% of the district’s students, and increasing knowledge and skills to integrate STEM and literacy in authentic classroom activities for Pre-K through 8th grade teachers.
FY 2018Corbin Independent Schools S215G180024KYProposes to develop and enhance effective and evidence-based school library programs, which will include professional development opportunities for school library personnel; provide early literacy services, including evidence/research-based Born Learning, Vroom and Hatch reading curricula, which includes pediatric literacy programming; provide high-quality books and literacy materials on a regular basis to increase motivation, performance, and frequency; increase high-quality, evidence-based literacy resources, which will prepare young children to read and improve learning opportunities, especially in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and informational literacy; and provide the most up-to-date literacy resources to promote literacy, emphasizing evidence-based STEM and college and career-ready skills needed by our students.
FY 2018Jasper County Charter SystemS215G180076GAExpects its project to result in enhanced classroom environments and school libraries via literacy materials and technology; gains in oral language skills for Pre-K students and in reading achievement for 4th grade students; increased book-to-student ratios and student access to free, grade- and language-appropriate books at home; increase in student classroom engagement and in parents engaging in literacy activities at home; increase in parents, mentors, and community volunteers trained on effective literacy strategies; improved collaboration between school library and school staff; enhanced instructional practices as a result of professional development opportunities; and improved literacy skills as a result of access to summer learning.
FY 2018Brownsville Independent School District S215G180018TXProposes to develop and enhance effective school library programs, which include providing professional development for school librarians, book distributions including utilizing pediatricians to promote literacy readiness, and up-to-date materials to high-need schools.  This project will provide early literacy services through community partnerships; provide high-quality books on a regular basis to children and adolescents from low-income communities to increase reading motivation, performance, and frequency; and integrate academic technology learning and professional development in the acquisition of digitized books to expand accessible resources to a greater number of students.
FY 2018Caney Public SchoolsS215G180027OKWill distribute books regularly, considering students’ choices; give parents access to trainings, resources, and free children’s books to implement home reading strategies; match student needs with three types of classrooms and intervention curricula; provide professional development that includes methods to teach Native American, special needs, or impoverished students; and place more than 1,200 books and electronic reading devices in the library to generate student interest.  The proposed project outcomes are to improve literacy and language proficiency of Pre-K students, increase 4th and 8th grade student scores on the reading component of the state’s standardized test, and increase the book-to-student ratio.
FY 2018DeKalb County School DistrictS215G180150GAProposes to implement and evaluate the potential effectiveness of a professional development model designed to enhance secondary school teachers’ literacy instruction in science, technology, engineering and math  (STEM) to culturally and linguistically diverse students.  The project will advance teaching and learning of literacy skills (reading and writing development), intellectualism, identity development and criticality/social justice, and will provide 12 professional development sessions each year to students, literacy coaches, and school principals.
FY 2018Bokoshe Public SchoolsS215G180107OKProposes to, by 2021, improve and upgrade the school libraries of each district to engage students, increase circulation rates, and offer enriched literacy programming; improve classroom literacy instruction efficacy through district-wide implementation of data-driven instruction and high-engagement educational technology, as ultimately measured by student reading/English language arts achievement on state assessments; raise pre-literacy/literacy and reading achievement of Pre-K through 3rd grade students; and raise literacy levels (Lexiles) at the high school level through project-based learning opportunities by 5%.
FY 2018Scotland County SchoolsS215G180041NCProposes to promote high-quality early literacy practices to prepare young children to read, improve students’ reading ability and motivation to read, and provide professional learning for teachers and media specialists.  The proposed project outcomes are improved academic achievement; reading skills; science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) content knowledge; parent engagement and awareness on promoting emergent and cognitive growth; teacher knowledge and pedagogy; community supports to address the literacy and decreased subgroup gaps.
FY 2018Stringtown Public SchoolsS215G180077OKWill create literacy-rich school and home environments through access to highly appealing reading materials on a wide variety of subjects, including science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and in multiple formats along with intentional outreach and education of families.  Teachers and library staff will facilitate student technology use through interactive and collaborative activities designed to increase student motivation and reading achievement.  The project will include significant professional development and collaborative activities to build educator capacity to support student reading and writing achievement and increase parental involvement.
FY 2018Mastery Charter High SchoolS215G180142PAProposes to enhance adult learning (teachers, school leaders, and parents) to better prepare adults to help improve the literacy skills of children in Mastery schools and incoming to Mastery schools, to improve student achievement in literacy for its students in Grades K to 8, and to measure and show improvement on the Innovative Approaches to Literacy program’s Government Performance and Results Act measures.  The project includes KIPP-Wheatley curriculum expansion, an Orton-Gillingham-based reading intervention after school and in the summer, parent engagement in literacy, classroom libraries, and book distribution.
FY 2018City School District of the City of Elmira, NY Inc.S215G180073NYWill implement a multi-tiered system of support in K–2 classrooms, which will provide tiered levels of differentiated instruction for all students, proven to increase accelerated and sustained reading achievement if implemented at an early age.  The proposed project outcomes are to deliver extensive and sustained, embedded professional development by highly qualified personnel; partner with revitalized and expanded school libraries staffed by trained library teaching assistants; establish a collaborative infrastructure across grades and buildings; and provide book distributions, family literacy outreach and support of afterschool and summer literacy programming.
FY 2018Corinth School DistrictS215G180147MS

Proposes to: pilot an early literacy application, Educyte, for Pre-K – 3rd grade students; place books in the homes of all Corinth children before they enter Kindergarten; provide high-quality literacy programming and coaching for teachers and librarians; enrich the Family Literacy Center to provide parents with additional resources to promote early literacy development in the home; introduce the Cambridge International Information Communication Technology (ICT) standards and curriculum in K-6th grades; have teachers

 participate in Professional Learning Communities; and promote leisure reading through literacy celebrations and community-wide readings.

2016 Awards

Year AwardedGranteePRNState
FY 2016Northwest Artic Borough School DistrictS215G160191AK
FY 2016Sacramento City Unified School DistrictS215G160143CA
FY 2016CommonLit Inc.S215G160065DC
FY 2016Corbin Independent SchoolsS215G160171KY
FY 2016Grayson County Board of EducationS215G160013KY
FY 2016Kentucky Educational Development CorporationS215G160112KY
FY 2016Newport Independent SchoolsS215G160105KY
FY 2016Owsley County SchoolsS215G160118KY
FY 2016Perry County School DistrictS215G160137KY
FY 2016Russellville Independent School DistrictS215G160127KY
FY 2016West Kentucky Educational CooperativeS215G160112KY
FY 2016Baltimore City Public SchoolsS215G160125MD
FY 2016Reading & Math, Inc.S215G160094MN
FY 2016Three Rivers Education FoundationS215G160051NM
FY 2016Camden City Board of EducationS215G160190NJ
FY 2016Addison Central School DistrictS215G160067NY
FY 2016Ashe County Schools DistrictS215G160126NC
FY 2016Winston-Salem/Forsyth County SchoolsS215G160192NC
FY 2016Bokoshe School DistrictS215G160062OK
FY 2016Lane Elementary School DistrictS215G160100OK
FY 2016LeFlore Public SchoolsS215G160026OK
FY 2016Maryetta School DistrictS215G160072OK
FY 2016Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School DistrictS215G160197OK
FY 2016Stilwell Public SchoolsS215G160104OK
FY 2016School District of PhiladelphiaS215G160049PA
FY 2016Dillon School District FourS215G160031SC
FY 2016Crockett Independent School DistrictS215G160107TX
FY 2016Karnes City Independent School DistrictS215G160017TX
FY 2016Texans Can AcademiesS215G160059TX

2015 Awards

Year AwardedGranteePRNState
FY 2015University of DelawareS215G150117DE
FY 2015Chilton Independent School DistrictS215G150075TX

2014 Awards

Year AwardedGranteeYear 1 FundingState
FY 2014St. Clair County Schools$199,934AL
FY 2014San Carlos Unified School District$559,512AZ
FY 2014Marana Unified School District$749,943AZ
FY 2014Pasadena Unified School District$445,135CA
FY 2014Santa Rosa City Schools$713,933CA
FY 2014Oakland Unified School District$322,526CA
FY 2014El Rancho Unified School District$360,888CA
FY 2014Eureka City Schools$715,041CA
FY 2014Lake County Office of Education$372,923CA
FY 2014Monterey County Office of Education$621,561CA
FY 2014Hemet Unified School District$340,918CA
FY 2014Mendocino County Office of Education$324,941CA
FY 2014Lindsay Unified School District$750,000CA
FY 2014Pleasanton Unified School District$475,976CA
FY 2014ABC Unified School District$362,862CA
FY 2014Leadership Public Schools$276,856CA
FY 2014YPI Charter Schools, aka Bert Corona Charter School$750,000CA
FY 2014Tulare County Office of Education$740,691CA
FY 2014Eagle Academy Public Charter School$321,675DC
FY 2014The School Board of Broward County, Florida$750,000FL
FY 2014Duval County Public Schools$749,235FL
FY 2014Nassau District School Board$671,227FL
FY 2014Hillsborough County Public Schools$750,000FL
FY 2014School Board of Polk County, Florida$750,000FL
FY 2014Ft. Dodge Community School District$316,591IA
FY 2014Des Moines Independent Community School District$499,808IA
FY 2014Alton Community Unit School District #11$255,170IL
FY 2014Zion Elementary School District 6$214,973IL
FY 2014Sandoval Community Unit School District 501$320,965IL
FY 2014Corbin Board of Education$200,000KY
FY 2014Jefferson County Board of Education$749,903KY
FY 2014West Kentucky Educational Cooperative$749,698KY
FY 2014Martin County Board of Education$310,782KY
FY 2014Caddo Parish School Board$604,087LA
FY 2014Jefferson Parish Public School System$742,406LA
FY 2014Orleans Parish School Board$525,000LA
FY 2014Newton Public Schools$364,358MA
FY 2014Town of Reading$252,329MA
FY 2014Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District$334,863MA
FY 2014Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker Schools$361,303MI
FY 2014School District of the City of Detroit$705,797MI
FY 2014Muskegon Area Intermediate School District$442,125MI
FY 2014Cabarrus County Schools$749,895NC
FY 2014Lincoln Public Schools$260,117NE
FY 2014Papillion-La Vista School District$325,411NE
FY 2014Fremont Public Schools$750,000NE
FY 2014Laconia School District$200,211NH
FY 2014Auburn Enlarged City School District$229,397NY
FY 2014Board of Education, Buffalo NY$694,033NY
FY 2014Lyons Central School District$723,102NY
FY 2014Cleveland Hill Union Free School District$222,037NY
FY 2014Longwood Central School District$319,966NY
FY 2014Cheektowaga Central School District$138,576NY
FY 2014Osage County Interlocal Cooperative$648,302OK
FY 2014Philadelphia School District$608,269PA
FY 2014Lancaster School District$635,659PA
FY 2014Spartanburg County School District Two$328,267SC
FY 2014South San Antonio Independent School District$727,566TX
FY 2014Southside Independent School District$729,391TX
FY 2014Pasadena Independent School District$667,108TX
FY 2014Northside Independent School District$193,299TX
FY 2014Karnes City Independent School District$602,128TX
FY 2014San Antonio Independent School District$533,581TX
FY 2014Granite School District$747,539UT
FY 2014Tooele County School District$475,525UT
FY 2014Virgin Islands Department of Education$745,384VI
FY 2014Vancouver School District #37$323,010WA
FY 2014Berlin Area School District$231,489WI
FY 2014Appleton Area School District$660,354WI
FY 2014Wausau School District$747,030WI
FY 2014West Allis-West Milwaukee School District$575,516WI

2013 Awards

Year AwardedGranteePRNState
FY 2013Poteet Independent School DistrictS215G130159TX
FY 2013Lake Worth Independent School DistrictS215G130158TX

2012 Awards

Year AwardedGranteePRNState
FY 2012Lowndes County Public SchoolsS215G120161AL
FY 2012Kashunamiut School DistrictS215G120151AK
FY 2012North Little Rock School DistrictS215G120245AR
FY 2012Corning Union Elementary School DistrictS215G120064CA
FY 2012Seeley Union School DistrictS215G120146CA
FY 2012Children’s Defense FundS215G120034DC
FY 2012Eagle AcademyS215G120017DC
FY 2012Reading Is Fundamental, Inc.S215G120028DC
FY 2012School Board of Polk County, FloridaS215G120173FL
FY 2012Boys & Girls Clubs of AmericaS215G120193GA
FY 2012East Saint Louis School District 189S215G120112IL
FY 2012Charter for Accelerated Learning DBA C.A.Tindley Acc. School215G120090IN
FY 2012West Elk School District 282S215G120032KS
FY 2012Corbin Board of EducationS215G120044KY
FY 2012Todd County Board of EducationS215G120063KY
FY 2012Raising A Reader National OfficeS215G120141LA
FY 2012McComb School DistrictS215G120104MS
FY 2012Starkville School DistrictS215G120138MS
FY 2012Vicksburg-Warren School DistrictS215G120035MS
FY 2012Board of Education of the City of St. LouisS215G120048MO
FY 2012Parents as Teachers Nation CenterS215G120007MO
FY 2012School District in Kansas City MissouriS215G120155MO
FY 2012BridgetonS215G120039NJ
FY 2012Camden City Board of EducationS215G120009NJ
FY 2012Addison Central School DistrictS215G120220NY
FY 2012The Books for Kids FoundationS215G120241NY
FY 2012McGraw Central School DistrictS215G120085NY
FY 2012Beaufort County SchoolsS215G120052NC
FY 2012Cleveland Municipal School DistrictS215G120045OH
FY 2012Cottonwood Public SchoolS215G120074OK
FY 2012Lane ElementaryS215G120096OK
FY 2012Maryetta SchoolS215G120065OK
FY 2012Lincoln County School DistrictS215G120074OR
FY 2012Chilton Independent School DistrictS215G120006TX
FY 2012Crockett Independent School DistrictS215G120098TX
FY 2012The East Austin College Prep AcademyS215G120011TX
FY 2012Houston Independent School DistrictS215G120194TX
FY 2012Karnes City Independent School DistrictS215G120084TX
FY 2012Navasota ISDS215G120226TX
FY 2012Nixon-Smiley Consolidated Independent School DistrictS215G120061TX
FY 2012Refugio Independent School DistrictS215G120060TX
FY 2012Region 5 Education Service CenterS215G120024TX
FY 2012The Reading Foundation dba Children’s Reading FoundationS215G120240WA
FY 2012Athens School DistrictS215G120092WI
FY 2012Milwaukee Public SchoolsS215G120025WI

Eligible Applicants:  To be considered for an award under this competition, an applicant must be one or more of the following:

  1. An LEA in which 20 percent or more of the students served by the LEA are from families with an income below the poverty line (as defined in section 8101(41) of the ESEA).
  2. A consortium of such LEAs described in paragraph (1) above.
  3. The Bureau of Indian Education.
  4. An eligible national nonprofit organization (as defined in section 2226(b)(2) of the ESEA) that serves children and students within the attendance boundaries of one or more eligible LEAs.

Note:  Under the definition of "poverty line" in section 8101(41) of the ESEA, the determination of the percentage of students served by an LEA from families with an income below the poverty line is based on the U.S. Census Bureau's SAIPE data. 

An entity that meets the definition of an LEA in section 8101(30) of the ESEA and that serves multiple LEAs, such as a county office of education, an education service agency, or regional service education agency, must provide the most recent SAIPE data for each of the individual LEAs it serves.  To determine whether the entity meets the poverty threshold, the Department will derive the entity's poverty rate by aggregating the number of students from families below the poverty line (as provided in SAIPE data) in each of the LEAs the entity serves and dividing it by the total number of students (as provided in SAIPE data) in all of the LEAs the entity serves.

An LEA for which SAIPE data are not available, such as a non-geographic charter school, must provide a determination by the State educational agency (SEA) that 20 percent or more of the students aged 5-17 in the LEA are from families with incomes below the poverty line based on the same State-derived poverty data the SEA used to determine the LEA's allocation under part A of title I of the ESEA.

Note:  If you are a nonprofit organization, under 34 CFR 75.51, you may demonstrate your nonprofit status by providing:  (1) proof that the Internal Revenue Service currently recognizes the applicant as an organization to which contributions are tax deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) a statement from a State taxing body or the State attorney general certifying that the organization is a nonprofit organization operating within the State and that no part of its net earnings may lawfully benefit any private shareholder or individual; (3) a certified copy of the applicant's certificate of incorporation or similar document if it clearly establishes the nonprofit status of the applicant; or (4) any item described above if that item applies to a State or national parent organization, together with a statement by the State or parent organization that the applicant is a local nonprofit affiliate.

National not-for-profit organization means an agency, organization, or institution owned and operated by one or more corporations or associations whose net earnings do not benefit, and cannot lawfully benefit, any private shareholder or entity.  In addition, it means, for the purposes of this program, an organization of national scope that is supported by staff or affiliates at the State and local levels, who may include volunteers, and that has a demonstrated history of effectively developing and implementing literacy activities.

Included in the chart below is the amount of funding per fiscal year since 2016

Fiscal YearFunding for New AwardsFunding for Continuation Awards
FY 2021 $2,446,055
FY 2020$0$27,000,000
FY 2019$2,447,410$24,039,279
FY 2018$26,731,834$0
FY 2017$0$24,816,507
FY 2016$27,270,481$429,975

*FY 19 new awards were funded down the FY 18 slate and not a new competition

Program Authority: Section 2226 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6646).

The authorizing legislation can be found at https://www2.ed.gov/documents/essa-act-of-1965.pdf (see page 187 of the legislation).

Governing Regulations/Cost Principles

Unless otherwise specified, the program's administrative regulations are EDGAR — Education Department General Administrative Regulations, and the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements found at 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Guidance).

Technical Assistance Webinars

A Technical assistance webinar was held on March 21, 2023  from 2pm-4pm EST. 

FY 2023 IAL Pre-Application Webinar PowerPoint Presentation

Additional Resources

  • The What Works Clearinghouse Procedures and Standards Handbook (Version 5.0, August 2022) includes information concerning levels of evidence and evaluation.
  • To determine whether a particular LEA is eligible for the Small, Rural School Achievement program(SRSA) or Rural and Low-Income School program (RLIS), refer to the Department's website. Applicants are encouraged to retrieve locale codes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) School District search tool (https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/), where LEAs can be looked up individually to retrieve locale codes and Public School search tool (https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/), where individual schools can be looked up to retrieve locale codes.  Applicants are encouraged to retrieve campus settings from the NCES College Navigator search tool (https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/), where IHEs can be looked up individually to determine the campus setting.
  • To determine whether an LEA is Urban, applicants are encouraged to retrieve locale codes from the NCES School District search tool https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/, searching by LEA.
  • For Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates for school districts for the most recent income year, please see the Census.gov web site.
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