Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Well-Rounded Education Programs: Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) Program, Assistance Listing Number 84.215G | ED GRANTS 031423 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 031423 001

The Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) Program, run by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), is a discretionary grant opportunity listed under Assistance Listing Number 84.215G. The program is focused on supporting strong, evidence-informed literacy efforts for children from birth through 12th grade, with a clear emphasis on serving high-need local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools. In practice, this means the program is meant to help communities where resources are limited and needs are high build or expand literacy supports that can measurably strengthen reading and related skills across early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school years.

A central theme of the opportunity is innovation in literacy, especially in low-income communities. The notice highlights several example approaches the program is intended to support. One major area is strengthening school library programs in high-need schools. That can include making school libraries more effective learning hubs by investing in current, high-quality reading materials, improving the relevance and timeliness of collections, and offering professional development for school librarians so they can better support students, collaborate with teachers, and promote reading engagement. Another highlighted approach is early literacy services that reach children well before they enter school, including pediatric literacy models. In these models, literacy promotion is embedded into routine well-child medical visits, where medical providers trained in research-based early language and literacy practices provide developmentally appropriate books and coach caregivers on reading aloud starting in infancy. A third example approach centers on increasing consistent access to books by providing high-quality books on a regular basis to children and adolescents in low-income communities, with the goal of increasing reading motivation, frequency, and performance over time.

From an application and timeline standpoint, applications were made available on March 14, 2023, with a deadline to submit a non-binding notice of intent to apply by March 29, 2023. While not required, the Department strongly encouraged prospective applicants to email the program contact person with the subject line "Intent to Apply" and include the applicant organization's name along with a contact person's name and email address, because it helps the Department plan for and review submissions more efficiently. The deadline for transmittal of full applications was May 15, 2023, and the deadline for intergovernmental review was July 12, 2023. The Department also offered a pre-application webinar, with details posted on the IAL program website hosted by OESE.

The opportunity was published as a synopsis of the official Federal Register notice, and applicants were directed to rely on the Federal Register version for the controlling details, including eligibility rules, required application components, submission instructions, priorities, performance measures, and other conditions. Applicants were also directed to use the Department of Education's Revised Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs (published December 7, 2022) for the official addresses and procedures for obtaining and submitting applications.

Administratively, this opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number ED GRANTS 031423 001, with an expected 20 awards. The listing notes an award ceiling of 0, which typically indicates the ceiling was not specified in the summary record and should be confirmed in the official Federal Register notice. Eligibility is broadly labeled as "Others" in the summary, with a note to consult the official notice's eligibility section for precise details. The program contact listed for questions was Simon Earle at the U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, room 3E254, Washington, DC 20202-6450, telephone (202) 453-7923, email Simon.Earle@ed.gov.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Well-Rounded Education Programs: Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) Program, Assistance Listing Number 84.215G" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.215.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 14, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 15, 2023 Applications Available March 14, 2023. Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply March 29, 2023. Notice of Intent to Apply The Department will be able to review grant applications more efficiently if we know the approximate number of applicants that intend to apply. Therefore, we strongly encourage each potential applicant to notify us of their intent to submit an application. To do so, please email the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT with the subject line #8220Intent to Apply,#8221 and include the applicant#8217s name and a contact person#8217s name and email address. Applicants that do not submit a notice of intent to apply may still apply for funding applicants that do submit a notice of intent to apply are not bound to apply or bound by the information provided. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications May 15, 2023. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review July 12, 2023. Pre-Application Webinar Information The Department will hold a pre-application meeting via webinar for prospective applicants. For information about the pre-application webinar, visit the IAL website at https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-discretionary-grants-support-services/well-rounded-education-programs/innovative-approaches-to-literacy/. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Simon Earle, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 3E254, Washington, DC 20202-6450. Telephone (202) 453-7923. Email Simon.Earle@ed.gov.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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