July 20, 2021
Description of grant:
The Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education recently announced $25,000,000 in funding for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy Program (IAL Program). The IAL Program seeks to develop literacy skills in low-income communities by developing and enhancing school library programs; providing early childhood literacy services during well-child visits; and providing books to children and adolescents from low-income communities.
Who is Eligible?
Individual Local Education Agencies (LEA), as well as consortiums of LEAs, are eligible to apply if at least 20% of their student body lives below the poverty line. The Bureau of Indian Education and national nonprofits are also eligible. The grant line includes two absolute priorities: (1) projects carried out in coordination with school libraries for book distribution, childhood literacy activities, or both and (2) projects carried out in coordination with school libraries that provide a learning environment that is racially, ethnically, culturally, disability status, and linguistically responsive and inclusive, supportive, and identity-safe. There are also several competitive preference priorities, including rural applicants (5 points), supporting students in urban areas (5 points), and supporting students from low-income families (3 points).
The Department of Education anticipates funding between 40 and 60 programs, with awards averaging $500,000.
If you are applying for this grant and need assistance identifying goals, objectives, and outcomes or completing the “Quality of Program Evaluation” section of the grant application (worth 10 points!), please contact us! Book a 30-minute consult to discuss how VIA can support your application.
Deadline for Submission: 8/11/2021, 12:00 PM
Grant link to read more:
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-07-12/pdf/2021-14763.pdf-m
