Indiana To Receive $14 Million In Reading First Grants
The Department of Education (DOE) has annoucned that Indiana and American Samoa will receive more than $12.9 million and $1.4 million, respectively, for the first year of multi-year Reading First grants to help schools and districts improve children’s reading achievement using scientifically proven methods of instruction.
Both Indiana’s and American Samoa’s applications passed a rigorous review panel that judged the plan against 25 main review criteria. Over six years, Indiana will receive approximately $84.4 million in support, and American Samoa will receive $8.5 million, subject to successful implementation and congressional appropriations.
With the funding of Indiana and American Samoa, 23 states and territories are now receiving unprecedented support under the new program.
The grants announced today support critical improvements in classroom reading instruction based on proven methods of instruction, screening and diagnosis of reading difficulties, monitoring of student progress, and thorough and high-quality professional development for teachers. States will build a statewide infrastructure to guide reform and assist school districts that will be funded under a state-run competition for district subgrants.
Indiana plans to hold a competition for eligible school districts to compete for subgrants this spring, with the state planning to support some 66 schools in eligible school districts.
As part of its professional development plan, Indiana will hold 40 statewide sessions on scientifically based reading instruction for all K-3 teachers, including special education teachers, and administrators.
These sessions will be followed by the Indiana Literacy Conference, designed to extend K-3 teachers’ knowledge of scientifically based reading research and instruction, effective classroom instructional strategies and the use and interpretation of reading assessment tools.
American Samoa plans to begin implementing this program in all of its schools immediately. The University of Oregon is partnering with the state education agency to support its implementation its professional development plan will give teachers intensive training in scientifically based reading instruction, classroom assessment and program implementation.
