DEPARTMENT SEEKS APPLICATIONS TO IMPROVE READING, WRITING SKILLS

Oct 11, 2017

Subgrants Draw from $55.5 Million Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Grant


BATON ROUGE, La. - The Louisiana Department of Education has launched a multi-million dollar competitive subgrant application process to support school systems statewide as they create and implement initiatives to improve the reading and writing skills of struggling students.

The subgrants draw from a three-year, $55.5 million Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy (SRCL) grant Louisiana received from the federal government earlier this month. The SRCL grant aims to advance the pre-literacy, reading and writing skills of disadvantaged youth, birth through grade 12, including English language learners and students with disabilities.

"Reading is essential and requires strong curriculum," said State Superintendent John White. "Louisiana's SRCL grant will give thousands of teachers access to high-quality curriculum aligned to state standards and ongoing training to use it effectively."

The state will award subgrants tailored to the following age groups:
  • Birth to 5-years-old and kindergarten to grade 5: Applicants in this category will be required to demonstrate they serve children in both birth through age 5 and kindergarten through grade 5 age ranges. The state estimates it will award 30 subgrants within this age band. The average grant size will total $351,500 per year, which is broken down to $87,875 for birth to age five and $263,625 for kindergarten through grade 5 to adhere to federal funding distributions.
  • Grades 6 through 8: The state estimates it will award 25 subgrants with an average grant amount of $120,514 per year to adhere to federal funding distributions.
  • Grades 9 through 12: The state estimates it will award 25 subgrants with an average grant amount of $160,686 per year to adhere to federal funding distributions.
All school districts and charter schools or charter management organizations with independent status are eligible to apply to one or more of the three proposed age bands by November 10, 2017. Following an independent review of the submitted applications, the Department will send recommendations to the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for approval, and awards will be announced in December.

For the 2017 SRCL Subgrant Application, click here.

For more information about Louisiana's SRCL Grant, click here.

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