In what represents an exciting and significant step towards achieving educational equity for all, the federal government announced this Fall the winners of the 2017-18 Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Program’s grant.
The following 11 states were awarded Striving Reader grants in the most recent round of funding: Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, and Oklahoma.
If your state is one of those listed above, then congratulations! However, you may also have some questions, so we’ve put together a brief FAQ for you about the program and its guidelines:
What is the Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Program?
The Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant is a federal award designed to advance literacy skills, reading, and writing for children from birth through Grade 12, including those living in poverty, English learners, and children with disabilities. This year, the grant awarded nearly $365 million to eleven states.
What are the guidelines for those looking to receive funding from their state?
Approximately 95% of the funds will be distributed directly to Local Education Agencies (LEAs), including local schools and early childhood providers in order to improve literacy outcomes in classrooms. 15% of the funds will serve children from birth through age five, 40% of the funds will go to students in Kindergarten through Grade 5, and 40% to students in middle and high school.
The U.S, Department of Education has asked State Education Agencies (SEA) to prioritize Striving Readers grant funds to applicants proposing to use resources that are supported by and meet either Strong or Moderate Evidence (Tiers I-II) as defined by ESSA. SEAs may outline additional requirements for their application.
Does CKLA and its supporting products qualify as resources that can be purchased through this grant?
Yup! This is a great opportunity to expand your collection of CKLA resources for you and your students in the classroom. Outside of our core offering, CKLA offers a variety of ancillary products designed to supplement any additional reading, writing, or language needs. If you have questions about how CKLA meets federal and state requirements, please contact CKLA@amplify.com.
When are applications for funding due?
Deadlines and applications guidelines will vary from state to state, so we recommend that you check in with your state’s Department of Education regarding upcoming resources and policies surrounding the application process.
Interested in learning more about the Striving Readers Program and CKLA’s additional resources? Email us at CKLA@amplify.com.
