Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant

In 2024, Iowa was awarded a total of $24 million from the federal competitive Comprehensive Literacy State Development (IA-CLSD) grant. The award includes $4 million in planning subgrants and the opportunity for an additional $5 million annually in implementation subgrants over four years, 2025 through 2029, to support Iowa school districts and public charter schools in strengthening literacy programs for students from birth through grade 12.

Goals of the IA-CLSD Grant

1. Improve the internal systems of Iowa schools and early learning programs serving disadvantaged students to accelerate improvement in literacy and ELA outcomes, particularly targeting schools and early childhood education sites in high-need areas, including both urban and rural areas.
2. Ensure disadvantaged students have equitable access to highly effective instructional leaders, educators, and early care providers trained in the Science of Reading and evidence-based practices.
3. Ensure scientifically aligned and evidence-based literacy resources and learning tools are accessible to all stakeholders, especially for disadvantaged families and caregivers of young children.

Subgrantee Awards

Twenty-eight districts and public charter schools were selected for an initial planning subgrant to support costs associated with local literacy plan development, including contracting with external literacy consultants, providing professional development on the Science of Reading for Literacy Leadership Team members and attending evidence-based professional learning events in partnership with the Department. 

The amount awarded to each successful applicant for the initial planning subgrant varies based on the student population served and the details outlined in each respective applicant’s plan. Awardees that demonstrate completion of the planning subgrant expectations will have the opportunity to apply for additional implementation subgrants over four years through 2029. 

Comprehensive State Literacy Plan (CSLP)

Local Education Agencies (LEAs) who have been awarded as subgrantees of the IA-CLSD grant will align their Local Literacy Plans to the state’s Comprehensive State Literacy Plan (CSLP). The CSLP focuses on equipping educators, engaging families, and aligning resources to create a coherent system that addresses the needs of all students. To support local literacy efforts, access the  Iowa CSLP Brief (1020.97 KB) .pdf and the  full version of the Iowa CSLP (3.16 MB) .pdf .

IA-CLSD Grant Highlights

High-Quality Instructional Materials Leadership Academy

Participants: Subgrantees, Grant Support Providers and a variety of Iowa schools.

A training series designed to strengthen literacy outcomes across Iowa by supporting district teams and support personnel in leading implementation of High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) with fidelity. 

• Session 1 launches the work by building a shared vision for literacy, aligning stakeholders, and using diagnostic tools to assess the current landscape. 
• Session 2 focuses on effective leadership during adoption and early implementation, equipping participants with strategies for curriculum-based professional learning, instructional planning, and establishing enabling conditions for success. 
• Session 3 emphasizes creating supportive systems and structures for continuous improvement, focusing on monitoring, coaching, lesson internalization, and leveraging curriculum-embedded assessments. 
• Session 4 supports teams in evaluating and strengthening district systems to ensure long-term coherence, sustainability, and alignment of all literacy structures with Iowa’s Comprehensive State Literacy Plan.

Office Hours

The Iowa Department of Education’s literacy team hosts regular Zoom meetings for subgrantees and grant support providers. Meetings provide an opportunity for grant participants to connect, share ideas, ask questions and receive updates on grant activities.

Canvas Courses

The strategies and tools developed and implemented during the life of the grant are shared via password-protected Canvas courses. These courses provide an opportunity for grant participants to easily locate and reference helpful resources to strengthen their literacy programs. As these resources are piloted and refined, the Iowa Department of Education will develop a Literacy Clearinghouse that will expand and extend the life of the grant. This Literacy Clearinghouse will be available to all educational entities across Iowa.

Deepening Educators’ Understanding of the Science of Reading

Through collaboration with their Grant Support Providers, IA-CLSD subgrantees continue to strengthen their systemic literacy programs using data from the district Comprehensive Literacy Needs Assessment, classroom walkthroughs and leadership training from the HQIM Leadership Academy. Recent developments include the establishment of Literacy Leadership Teams and the creation of Local Literacy Plans.

Science of Reading Summit

Hosted by the Iowa Reading Research Center, the Iowa Science of Reading Summit annually brings together educators from across Iowa to expand their knowledge of evidence-based instructional practices and the science of reading. The summit supports student literacy by cultivating a community of educators who are data-driven, informed by current research and critical consumers of reading curricula and assessments. For more information, visit the Iowa Science of Reading Summit website.

Educator Preparation Program Literacy Summit

The Iowa Department of Education hosts an annual Science of Reading Summit to support Iowa's educator preparation programs by connecting faculty with literacy experts and advancing the use of evidence-based practices in fluency, word recognition and assessment.