Innovative Approaches to Literacy Program
DOE does not anticipate releasing a new solicitation this year. FY 2013 funds will go towards a second year of funding for the current grantees.
Grant: Innovative Approaches to Literacy Program
Agency: U.S. Department of Education (DOE)
Division: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
Deadline: This competition is closed. The deadline was August 10, 2012.
Description: The Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program supports high-quality programs designed to develop and improve literacy skills for children and students from birth through twelfth grade in high-need local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools. The DOE will support innovative programs that promote early literacy for young children, motivate older children to read and increase student achievement by using school libraries, distributing free books to children and their families, and offering high-quality literacy activities. Acceptable projects under the IAL program include those which:
- Increase access to a wide range of literacy resources (print or electronic) preparing children to read and provide learning opportunities for all participants.
- Provide high-quality childhood literacy activities with meaningful opportunities for parental engagement.
- Strengthen literacy development across academic content areas by providing a wide range of literacy resources.
- Foster collaborations and joint professional development opportunities for teachers, school leaders and school library personnel with a focus on using literacy resources effectively to support reading, writing and academic achievement.
- Provide resources to support literacy-rich academic and enrichment activities and services aligned with state college-and career-ready standards.
In this most recent competition, the DOE maintains one absolute priority and four competitive preference priorities. The absolute priority requires all applicants to include a high-quality plan for innovative approaches to literacy such as book distribution, childhood literacy activities or both. All activities must be supported by at least one scientifically valid research study.
Under the competitive preference priorities, applicants will receive up to five additional points for each priority they address. A total of 15 additional points will be awarded per application. These priorities include:
- Turing Around Persistently Lowest-Achieving Schools - includes projects that improve student achievement, increase graduation rates and college enrollment rates, and provide services to students enrolled in persistently lowest achieving schools.
- Technology – includes projects designed to improve reading readiness in children or student achievement through the use of high-quality digital tools or materials. This may include preparing teachers or school library personnel to use the technology to improve instruction, as well as developing, implementing, or evaluating digital tools or materials.
- Improving Early Learning Outcomes – includes projects which improve school readiness and success for high-need children.
- Serving Rural LEAs – includes projects that provide high-quality literacy programming, or distribute books or both to students served by a rural local educational agency.
More on each of these absolute and competitive preference priorities can be found in the program notice.
Fit for Public Broadcasting: Public broadcasting’s contribution to education aligns nicely with this program and stations are encouraged to seek out partnerships with a LEA or a national nonprofit. The IAL program looks for projects that foster collaboration and provide professional development opportunities for teachers, school leaders and library personnel to increase student achievement. In the past, grants have been made to support distance learning, afterschool programs, construction of computer labs, and curriculum development and training. Additional information on past grantees can be found here.
Eligibility: Stations are not eligible to apply directly to this program, but are encouraged to seek out partnerships with eligible applicants. Those eligible to apply include national not-for-profit organizations that serve children and students; high need LEAs; or a consortium of one or more national not-for-profit organizations or high-need LEAs.
Anticipated Funding: The DOE anticipates awarding a total of $28,599,844 for this program. An estimated 30 grants will be awarded to LEAs with awards ranging from $150,000 to $750,000. One to four awards will be made to national not-for-profit organizations, each ranging from $3 million to $14 million. Project periods for all awards will last up to 24 months.
Cost sharing is not required under this program.
How to Apply: Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov. Online submission requires registration, a process that usually takes three to five business days but can take as long as four weeks. Be sure to visit Grants.gov and begin registering well in advance of the grant deadline.
Resources:
Program notice
Program website
Past Grantees
