In the October 22, 2015 weekly Michigan Department of Education (MDE) Communications email, the announcement was made regarding MDE’s release of a series of four (4) grants intended to increase student achievement in early literacy. The MDE is asking for your assistance by encouraging your local districts to take full advantage of the grant opportunities listed below and provide support where needed. Your representative(s) on the General Education Leadership Network and the School Improvement Network have received detailed information about the grants and may be the person(s) who can best support local districts in this initiative.
The grant opportunities are part of the Fiscal Year 2016 State School Aid budget (PA 85 of 2015 Sec. 35a and 104d.). The four grants cover the following areas:
• Additional Instructional Time o Section 35a(6) of the FY 2015 State School Aid Act provides $17,500,000 to districts for additional instructional time to pupils in grades K-3 who have been identified as needing additional supports and interventions in order to be reading at grade level by the end of grade 3.
Literacy Coaches o Section 35a(5) of the FY 2015 State School Aid Act provides $3,000,000 for early literacy coaches at Intermediate School Districts (ISD) to assist teachers in developing and implementing instructional strategies for pupils in grades K-3 so that pupils are reading at grade level by the end of grade 3. Each ISD in the state is eligible for 50 percent funding of this positon from the MDE in the amount of $37,500.
• Professional Development for Early Literacy Educators o The FY2015 State School Aid Act appropriated $1,900,000 for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years for a competitive grant to a local school district or ISD to support schools statewide through professional development for early literacy educators. This includes work with the Michigan Virtual University to create and implement online training.
• Assessment Reimbursement o Section 35a(4) and 104d of the FY 2015 State School Aid Act provides $4,500,000 to districts for reimbursement for the purchase of a computer-adaptive test for each pupil enrolled in the district or that purchase one or more diagnostic tools, screening tools, or benchmark assessments for pupils in grades K-3 that are intended to increase reading proficiency by grade 4.
The applications for these grants are currently available for Local Educational Agencies and eligible parties. You can find all applications and background information at www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-28753_74161—,00.html.
If you have questions regarding these 4 grants, please contact earlyliteracy@michigan.gov.
Source: MI Dept of Eductaion