History and Purpose
In 2012, the Colorado READ Act established an Early Literacy Grant Program. This is a comprehensive grant program focused on system-wide early literacy efforts. In 2018, House Bill 18-1393, revised READ Act to expand 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.
Rules for the Administration of the Early Literacy Grant (effective 11-30-18)
Comprehensive Early Literacy Grant Program
Established in 2012, the Comprehensive Early Literacy Grant (ELG) Program is a comprehensive approach to improving early literacy, focused on implementing and sustaining scientifically and evidence-based reading instruction. The Comprehensive Early Literacy Grant Program is designed to distribute funds to local education providers, including school districts, BOCES, and district charter schools or Institute Charter Schools, to ensure the essential components of reading instruction are embedded into all elements of the primary, K-3 teaching structures in all schools, including universal and targeted and intensive instructional interventions, to assist all students in achieving reading competency.
Through the Comprehensive Early Literacy Grant Program, the Colorado Department of Education:
- Assists grantees in establishing instructional systems based on Scientifically Based Reading Research to improve the quality of reading instruction for all K – 3 students.
- Help schools implement a multi-tiered support system to reduce the number of students reading below grade level.
- Provides professional development to principals, teachers and intervention teachers on effective instructional practices and the underlying teaching infrastructures to improve reading achievement among K – 3 students.
- Assists grantees in administering and interpreting approved interim and diagnostic assessments pursuant to the READ Act.
- Supports implementation of school-wide literacy programs as well as programs designed for targeted and intensive instructional interventions.
- Assists grantees with testing schedules and interpreting assessment data.
Timeline: Comprehensive Early Literacy Grant Program
Cohort 1: 2013 - 2016
Launched consisting of 30 schools from 15 districts in 7/8 regions of the state.
Cohort 2: 2016 - 2019
Launched consisting of 21 schools from 14 districts in 6/8 regions of the state.
Cohort 3: 2017 - 2020
Launched consisting of 11 schools from 6 districts in 5/8 regions of the state.
Cohort 4: Spring 2019 - 2022
Launched consisting of 30 schools from 19 districts in 7/8 regions of the state.
Sustainability Grant
This Request for Proposal (RFP) will be opened in the final year of the Comprehensive Early Literacy Grant cycle. It is designed to distribute funds to assist local education providers in sustainability planning after their receipt of a Comprehensive Early Literacy Grant. Eligibility for the Sustainability Grant is limited to those local education providers which are in the last year of funding for with a Comprehensive Early Literacy Grant.
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Request for Proposal for the 2019-2020 school year (Word Doc) - Application window closed April 10, 2019 for Cohort 2
Annual Literacy Professional Development Grant Program
House Bill 18-1393, revised READ Act, authorized the Early Literacy Grant Annual Professional Development (ELG PD) Program. This grant opportunity is geared to support Colorado educators in the implementation of scientifically and evidence-based reading programming and strategies for K-3 students. An effort championed by the State Board of Education, these funds are specifically intended for early literacy professional development for elementary educators.
Submit Your Application for the Annual Literacy Professional Development Grant Program *Open RFP
Approximately $150,000 is available for the Literacy Professional Development Grant Program. An will be held on April 11th at 10:30 am. Register for this technical assistance webinar here
If interested in applying for this funding opportunity, please submit the Letter of Intent by Monday, April 15, 2019.
Applications are due May 3rd.
Application materials:
- Spring 2019 Annual Literacy Professional Development Grant RFP (Word Doc)
- Spring 2019 Annual Literacy Professional Development Grant Budget Template (EXCEL)
- Application training webinar - recorded April 12th
- Application training webinar (PPT)
For More Information, Contact:
Alex Frazier
Preschool through 3rd Grade (P-3) Office
Phone: 303-866-6016
Email:Frazier_A@cde.state.co.us
Resources
General Resources
- Early Literacy Grant Implementation Consultant Provider List
Current ELG Schools
- mCLASS DIBELS Next Growth Tools for 2018-2019
Archives
Comprehensive Early Literacy Grant Program Application - Cohort IV
- ELG Cohort 4 Application (Word Doc)
- ELG RFP Budget Template (EXCEL)
- Recorded ELG Application Webinar from November 2, 2018
- ELG Application Webinar (PPT) from November 2, 2018
Early Literacy Grant Implementation Consultant
The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) was to solicit Implementation Consultants to be reviewed to meet the criteria for inclusion on the Early Literacy Grant Implementation Consultants list, pursuant to C.R.S. 22-7-1211. This was not a competitive process. Any provider which submitted an application during the fall 2018 timeframe of solicitation and met the criteria specified within this RFI was considered for inclusion on the provider list. All ELG Consultant providers prior to this RFI had to reapply to remain on the CDE provider list.
