[CASL-L] RE: Announcement: Apply Now for Federal School Literacy Grants

[IRENE KWIDZINSKI]

FYI


----- Forwarded Message ----
From: "Dickinson, Gail K." <GDickins at odu.edu>
To: "aaslforum at ala.org" <aaslforum at ala.org>
Sent: Thu, July 12, 2012 8:42:40 AM
Subject: [aaslforum] RE: Announcement: Apply Now for Federal School Literacy 
Grants

  
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 at ala.org]
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2012 5:01 PM
To: aaslforum at ala.org
Subject: [aaslforum] Announcement: Apply Now for Federal School Literacy Grants


From:District Dispatch [mailto:districtdispatch at alawash.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2012 2:46 PM
Subject: [District Dispatch] Announcement: Apply Now for Federal School Literacy 
Grants
 
 
 
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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