Improving Literacy Through School Libraries (federal grant)

Early alert to this is a grant from the federal Dept of Education’s Office of Innovation and Improvement; even more specifically, it’s the “Academic Improvement and Teacher Quality Programs” Office. All the information available through that site.

The grant program helps local educational agencies improve reading achievement by providing students with increased access to up-to-date school library materials; well-equipped, technologically advanced school library media centers; and professionally certified school library media specialists.

The site reads, "Districts may use funds for the following activities:"

• Purchase up-to-date school library media resources, including books;
• Acquire and use advanced technology that is integrated into the curricula to develop and enhance the information literacy, information retrieval, and critical-thinking skills of students;
• Facilitate Internet links and other resource-sharing networks;
• Provide professional development for school library media specialists of PK-3 students and provide activities that foster increased collaboration among library specialists, teachers, and administrators of PK-12 students; and
• Provide students with access to school libraries during nonschool hours, weekends, and summer vacations.

Who May Apply: Local education agencies (LEAs) in which at least 20 percent of students served are from families with incomes below the poverty line may apply. Poverty rates are "based on the 2009 census and are for the 2011 competition."

Five additional points will be awarded to applicants that propose to serve at least one school designated by the State as a “persistently lowest-achieving school” for the purpose of using LSL funds to help facilitate the Secretary's priority of turning around persistently lowest-achieving schools.

For concerns or questions regarding LEA eligibility for the LSL program, please contact the Connecticut Title I coordinator: Marlene Padernacht, Coordinator, Compensatory Education Unit, State Department of Education, 165 Capitol Avenue, P.O. Box 2219, Hartford, Connecticut  06145-2219. Marlene.Padernacht@po.state.ct.us, Phone: 860/713-6568.

In 2010 a total appropriation of $19,145,000 was provided with an average award of $350,000
In 2009 a total appropriation of $19,144,597 was provided to 57 awardees with an average award of $250,000.