Improving Literacy Through School Libraries

The Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education funds school library improvements under CFDA 84.364, with the most recent grant opportunity posted January 27, 2011, with applications due March 28, 2011. No grant awards have been disbursed since September 2010, making this program inactive for the past 16 years.

The program funds increased access to up-to-date school library materials, well-equipped and technologically advanced school library media centers, and recruitment and professional development of certified school library media specialists to improve student literacy skills and academic achievement. Recent awards show recipients securing funding ranging from roughly $9,000 to $600,000 per project, with most awards in the $200,000 to $500,000 range. For example, Project Grant S364A100104 awarded $600,000, Project Grant S364A100134 awarded $599,993, and Project Grant S364A100219 awarded $565,596.

All 700 awards in the portfolio were Project Grants, and all funding came from the Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. Combined federal dollars obligated total $155.8 million across the portfolio, with non-federal cost-share bringing total obligated dollars to $180 million. Award activity peaked in 2006 and 2007 at 82 awards per year, declining to 54 awards in 2010, the program's final active year. The program maintained consistent activity from 2002 through 2010.

The most recent posted opportunity, FY 2011 Improving Literacy through School Libraries (ED-GRANTS-012711-001), restricted eligibility to local education agencies, including charter schools, in which at least 20 percent of students came from families below the poverty line. No grant opportunities or awards have been posted since March 2011. This program should be pursued only if the funding line has been reactivated through a recent NOFO not reflected in the source data.