I took a minute this morning to look over this grant, and I have some (probably unwanted ) advice. I also just read Marcia Mardis's post regarding the PALM Center and that is exactly the type of help that I think could bring about a strong grant.
First of all, I think it's really important that we have a lot of high-quality applications. This is absolutely focused and targeted right at school libraries, and we have to make sure that we show we are worthy of having that bulls-eye
on our forehead.
That said, a due date of Aug 10th is going to make it really difficult to get those great applications. For sure, this is not something that one person can write. It will take a team of people working together to get a full and rich
application. Some points that I noticed, and as I said, this was a very quick read. I could be wrong.
1. This is targeted to a high-need LEA (basically, a school division) with more than 25% of the families with incomes below the poverty line. There is an official list of these. For five more extra points when they score the application,
the app should be based in a low-achieving school, and those are listed by name by following the links on the website given. For instance, I checked on Virginia, and there are 40 schools there, and it looks like about 44 in North Carolina. If your school
is not on the list, check for a neighboring school, and enter as a partnership. The low-achieving school can apply, but your school can also benefit.
2. There is a multi-part absolute priority that must be met, and part of this is that it is based on a scientifically-valid research study. In their definition of scientifically valid research studies, they include the definition
that it must have been published in a peer-reviewed refereed journal. More than just a citation is required, the directions state that you have to describe how the project is supported by the study. Stephen Krashen (thank you, Stephen) does a wonderful
job of informing the profession about these studies on this list.
3. Extra credit: there are 5 more points for using technology (we can do that), and another 5 for a rural school, or for what they consider improving reading in the early grades, and what I think they are talking about there is the
Campaign for Grade-Level Reading). You can only get 15 extra points, so it's ok if you don't meet all of the categories.
4. The program has established 4 ways of telling whether or not you are achieving the goals of the grant, and they are 4-year=old gains in oral language skills, 3rd or 8th grade state reading test scores, or high school reading or
language arts assessments as specified by ESEA.
So...my advice is to download and read the grant very thoroughly. If you are not either a high-need LEA, or one of the schools on the list, call the nearest one who is and offer to help. Search School Library Research for valid scientifically
based study (it has to be an actual study, not a discussion piece) .
It's only a month, and that is not a lot of time, but the average award they suspect they will be making is $500,000 and the estimated number of awards is 30.
Want your clerk back for 2 years? Supervisors.....want some staff at the district level?
Remember this is not all for stuff. Staffing is included as well.
What we can't do, though, is flood the office with poorly written grants, or grants not following the directions. So, apply, but be careful.
Gail
Gail Dickinson, Associate Professor
249-6 Education Building
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA 23529
757-683-6683
From: Jennifer Habley [jhabley@ala.org]
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2012 5:01 PM
To: aaslforum@ala.org
Subject: [aaslforum] Announcement: Apply Now for Federal School Literacy Grants
From: District Dispatch [mailto:districtdispatch@alawash.org]
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2012 2:46 PM
Subject: [District Dispatch] Announcement: Apply Now for Federal School Literacy Grants
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The application filing period for Innovative Approaches to Literacy Program (IAL) school literacy grants is
now open, the Department of Education announced today in the Federal Register. We encourage school librarians to apply for the program grants, which can range from $150,000–750,000. At least 50 percent of the $28.6 million is designated for school
librarians. The deadline to apply for the grant funding is August 10, 2012, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
The literacy grant program is designed to support innovative literacy programs for young children, increase student achievement by using school libraries and motivate older children to read. According to the Department of Education, the grants are to be
used to "develop and improve literacy skills for children and students from birth through 12th grade within the attendance boundaries of high-need local educational agencies."
Local education agencies can use the funding to support school libraries and purchase materials. The Department of Education highlighted the need for school libraries in the literacy efforts in the program announcement:
Many schools and districts across the Nation do not have school libraries that deliver high-quality literacy programming to children and their families. Additionally, many schools do not have qualified library media specialists and library facilities. Where
facilities do exist, they are often underresourced and lack adequate books and other materials. In many communities, high-need children and students have limited access to appropriate age- and grade-level reading material in their homes.
To get tips on how to apply for the literacy grant program, visit the ALA Innovative Approaches to Literacy
application guide webpage.
Please note: All interested parties must be
registered for federal grants in advance to apply for program grants.
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