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Early Literacy Grant (ELG)

History and Purpose of the Early Literacy Grant Program

In 2012, the Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development (READ) Act established the Comprehensive Early Literacy Grant (ELG) Program, a comprehensive approach to improving early literacy, focused on implementing and sustaining scientifically and evidence-based reading instruction.  This is a grant program focused on system-wide early literacy efforts that began with the Comprehensive Early Literacy Grant. In 2018, House Bill 18-1393, revised the READ Act to expand the Early Literacy Grants to include two additional grant programs - Sustainability Grants for those completing a Comprehensive Early Literacy Grant and an Annual Literacy Professional Development Grant.

SB 19-199 amended the Colorado READ Act and incorporated changes to the Early Literacy Grant program requiring an update to the rules. The state board approved the amended rules for the administration of the Early Literacy Grant program during the September board meeting. Updates include increased funding, additional reporting requirements and training for K-3 teachers.

Colorado READ Act Statute 

Rules for the Administration of the Early Literacy Grant Program 

Early Literacy Grant Awardees


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Comprehensive Early Literacy Grant Purpose 

The Comprehensive ELG Program provides money to local education providers (LEPs) to implement literacy support and intervention instruction programs to help kindergarten through third-grade students achieve reading competency. The Comprehensive ELG Program is focused on system-wide early literacy efforts and implementing and sustaining scientifically and evidence-based reading instruction. It is designed to improve students’ reading competency by supporting local education providers’ establishment of the essential components of reading instruction into kindergarten through third grade (K-3) teaching structures. This grant is implemented as a four-year grant cycle. Year 1 of the grant cycle serves as a planning and initial implementation year, followed by two years of operationalizing the grant. Upon completion of the three-year cycle, grantees will have the opportunity to apply for an additional one-year Sustainability Grant. Click the image above to learn more about the Comprehensive ELG and to access Comprehensive ELG resources. 

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Early Literacy Professional Development Grant Purpose 

House Bill 18-1393 amendments to the Colorado Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act (READ Act) authorized the Early Literacy Grant Annual Professional Development (ELG PD) Program. This grant opportunity is designed to support Colorado educators in implementation of scientifically based reading research (SBRR) programs and strategies for K-3 students. An effort championed by the State Board of Education (SBE), these funds are specifically intended for early literacy professional development for elementary educators. This purpose of this grant is to further support ELG grantees in full implementation of Science of Reading by providing extensive training and a network of support for recommended principal coaches. ​This grant is implemented as a one-year grant cycle. Click the image above to learn more about the ELG PD grant and to access ELG PD resources. 


For questions, please email our READ Act ELG Team