Innovative Approaches to Literacy 84.215G
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- DOL-OESE-33831
- Agency
-
Department of Labor
- Applications due
- Award size
- $375,000 to $750,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Employment, Labor and Training
- Eligible applicants
-
- Other
- Points of contact
-
- Simon Earle simon.earle@ed.gov (202) 453-7923
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The U.S. Department of Labor, administering this opportunity on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education, seeks applications for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy program to fund high-quality literacy initiatives for children and students from birth through 12th grade in high-need local educational agencies and schools. Eligible applicants include local educational agencies where 20 percent or more of students are from families below the poverty line, consortia of such LEAs, the Bureau of Indian Education, and eligible national nonprofit organizations serving children within attendance boundaries of eligible LEAs. Projects must prioritize at least one of three core components: developing and enhancing school library programs with professional development and materials; providing early literacy services including pediatric literacy programs through healthcare providers; or distributing high-quality books regularly to children and adolescents in low-income communities. Evaluation criteria are scored on a 100-point scale, assessing project need (10 points), quality of project design (50 points), and quality of the management plan (40 points), with additional competitive preference points available for rural applicants (5 points) and projects supporting meaningful learning opportunities through evidence-based interventions (10 points). The application deadline is June 9, 2026, with a Notice of Intent to Apply due by May 8, 2026; applicants must register with SAM.gov and Grants.gov prior to submission.
Awards will range from $375,000 to $750,000, with an estimated average award of $500,000 and approximately 25–35 anticipated grants distributed from the total available funding of $16.8 million. All projects will operate over a 60-month period and require annual performance reporting on reading achievement gains for fourth and eighth graders, increases in book-to-student ratios, and the percentage of children receiving free, grade-appropriate books. Cost sharing or matching funds are not required. Performance will occur across high-need local educational agencies and schools nationwide, with eligible applicants demonstrating service through SAIPE poverty data verification.
Synopsis
The Employment and Training Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor (Labor), is soliciting applications in support of the administration of the Innovative Approaches to Literacy program on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education (ED). The Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program supports high-quality programs designed to develop and improve literacy skills for children and students from birth through 12th grade in high-need local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools. IAL promotes innovative literacy programs that support the development of literacy skills in low-income communities, including programs that (1) develop and enhance effective school library programs, which may include providing professional development for school librarians, books, and up-to-date materials to high-need schools; (2) provide early literacy services, including pediatric literacy programs through which, during well-child visits, medical providers trained in research-based methods of early language and literacy promotion provide developmentally appropriate books and recommendations to parents to encourage them to read aloud to their children starting in infancy; and (3) provide high-quality books on a regular basis to children and adolescents from low-income communities to increase reading motivation, performance, and frequency. By expanding access to high‐quality books, strengthening school library programs, and promoting early language and literacy development in low‐income communities, the IAL program directly advances the goal of increasing reading proficiency. These strategies build strong foundational skills from birth through adolescence, ensuring that children and students-particularly those in high‐need LEAs-receive the targeted supports necessary to improve their reading motivation, performance, and long‐term literacy outcomes.
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