DES MOINES — Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education today announced it was awarded a multi-year competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Education totaling over $24 million to advance effective evidence-based literacy practices and interventions across the state.
“Reading is an essential skill that sets students up for success in school and beyond,” said Gov. Reynolds. “Iowa is prioritizing early literacy in classrooms all across our state and promoting the teacher-parent partnerships so critical to helping children become excellent readers. We will continue to support students as they learn to read through proven approaches, so they can spend a lifetime reading to learn.”
The Iowa Department of Education’s grant builds upon recent legislation championed by Governor Reynolds to support personalized reading plans for K-6 students who are not reading proficiently, as well as legislation aligning accredited teacher preparation programs to the Science of Reading focused on phonetic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and text comprehension.
“Reading unlocks a lifetime of potential—that’s why Iowa is empowering students, families and teachers with comprehensive advancements in early literacy, spanning world-class state content standards, statewide educator professional learning, and personalized reading tutoring,” said Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow. “This federal investment recognizes and helps advance our critical work together to accelerate student learning through evidence-based reading instruction.”
The federal Comprehensive Literacy State Development grant will support the implementation of Iowa’s State Literacy Plan over the next five years, including district development of local literacy plans aligned to a statewide plan. As a part of the grant, the Department will support schools in implementing Science of Reading-aligned instruction, including through continued professional learning, school-based literacy leadership teams, high-quality, standards-aligned instructional materials, strong community and family partnerships, and high-dose tutoring and targeted interventions informed by student data.
The Department will also work closely with institutions of higher education to align accredited teacher preparation programs to the Science of Reading, while continuing to support schools implementing evidence-based LETRS® professional learning for educators. The Iowa Department of Education’s grant will focus on improving literacy outcomes for all children and on meeting the needs of children who are reading below grade level and students who need differentiated instruction.
The Comprehensive Literacy State Development program is authorized under Sections 2221-2225 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended (ESEA). The purpose of the discretionary grants is to create a comprehensive literacy program to advance literacy skills, including pre-literacy skills, reading and writing, for children from birth through grade 12, with an emphasis on children living in poverty, children with disabilities, and children who are English learners.
Information on the Iowa Comprehensive Literacy State Development Plan Grant is available on the Department’s website.