Improving Literacy Through School Libraries
Grant: Improving Literacy Through School Libraries
Agency: U.S. Department of Education
Division: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
Deadline: March 28, 2011
Description: The purpose of the Improving Literacy Through School Libraries program is to improve student reading skills and academic achievement by providing students with increased access to up-to-date school library materials; well-equipped, technologically advanced school library media centers and well-trained, professionally certified school library media specialists.
Eligible local educational agencies may use funds for the following activities:
- Purchasing up-to-date school library media resources, including books.
- Acquiring and using advanced technology that is incorporated into the curricula of the school in order to develop and enhance the information literacy, information retrieval and critical-thinking skills of students.
- Facilitating internet links and other resource-sharing networks among schools and school library media centers and public and academic libraries.
- Providing professional development for school library media specialists and providing activities that foster increased collaboration among library specialists, teachers and administrators.
- Providing students with access to school libraries during non-school hours, including before and after school, weekends and summer vacation periods.
Projects that are designed to help improve persistently lowest-achieving schools will be given a competitive preference priority and awarded an additional five points. To meet this priority, projects must be designed to improve student achievement, increase graduation rates and provide services to students at persistently lowest-achieving schools. A specific definition of persistently lowest-achieving schools can be found in the program notice.
Fit for public broadcasting: Only local education agencies are eligible for this program, so public media stations cannot apply directly. Public media stations are, however, well-suited to perform many of the activities required by projects funded through this program. Public media stations would make very good partners for this program and should approach local education agencies in their communities about partnership. This program emphasizes the use of technology to improve student success, an area at which public media stations excel. Stations could partner with school districts to implement mixed-media and internet-based curricula that improve information literacy, information retrieval and critical thinking. In addition, public media stations that have professional development expertise could, with funds from this program, provide professional development for school media specialists. Though public media stations cannot be lead applicants, this program speaks to many of the strengths of public broadcasters. Stations should discuss partnership opportunities with the eligible LEAs in their communities.
Eligibility: Local Education Agencies (LEAs), including charter schools and state-administered schools that are considered LEAs under state law, in which at least 20 percent of the students are from families with incomes below the poverty line are eligible to apply. A list of LEAs with their family poverty rates can be found on the U.S. Department of Education website.
Anticipated funding: The Administration’s budget request for FY 2011 does not include funds for this program. The U.S. Department of Education is inviting applications to allow enough time to complete the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program. Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications, the U.S. Department of Education may make addition awards in FY 2012 from the list of unfunded applicants from this competition. The estimated range of awards is $100,000 - $600,000, the estimated average size of awards is $371,000, and the estimated number of awards is 50. The project period will be for up to 12 months.
How to apply: Applications can be obtained online and must be submitted 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 deadline. To do business with the U.S. Department of Education, applicants must have a DUNS number, register with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) and maintain an active CCR registration with current information during the application process and, if a grant is awarded, during the project period.
Resources:
Program notice
Program website
