The Iowa Department of Education has awarded a multi-year federal grant of more than $24 million to support a comprehensive statewide literacy initiative

Iowa (KWQC) – Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education announced it has been awarded a multi-year competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Education totaling more than $24 million to develop effective, evidence-based literacy practices and interventions across the state, according to a press release.

“Reading is an essential skill that prepares students for success in school and beyond,” said Governor Reynolds. “Iowa is prioritizing early literacy in classrooms across the state and fostering the partnerships between teachers and parents that are so crucial to helping children become excellent readers. We will continue to support students in learning to read through proven approaches so they can read to learn for a lifetime.”

The Iowa Department of Education grant builds on recent legislation, championed by Governor Reynolds, supporting personalized reading plans for K-6 students who are proficient in reading, as well as legislation aligning accredited teacher preparation programs with the Science of Reading focuses on phonetic awareness, phonetics, vocabulary, fluency and text comprehension, according to the press release.

“Reading unlocks a lifetime of potential – that’s why Iowa empowers students, families and teachers to make comprehensive progress in early literacy, which includes world-class state content standards, professional education for statewide educators and personalized reading guidance,” said the director of the Iowa Department of Education. McKenzie Snow. “This federal investment recognizes and helps advance our critical work together to accelerate student learning through evidence-based reading instruction.”

The federal Comprehensive Literacy State Development grant will support implementation of Iowa’s State Literacy Plan over the next five years, including district development of local literacy plans aligned with a statewide plan, the news release said.

As part of the grant, the department will support schools in implementing Science of Reading-focused education, including through continued professional learning, school-based literacy leadership teams, high-quality, standards-aligned instructional materials, strong community and family partnerships and high-level counseling and targeted interventions based on student data, the news release said.

The department will also work closely with higher education institutions to align accredited teacher preparation programs with the Science of Reading, while continuing to support schools in implementing evidence-based LETRS® professional learning for teachers, the release said.

The Iowa Department of Education grant will focus on improving literacy outcomes for all children and meeting the needs of children reading below grade level and students requiring differentiated instruction, the news release said.

The purpose of the discretionary grants is to create a comprehensive literacy program to promote literacy skills, including pre-literacy, reading and writing, for children from birth through twelfth grade, with an emphasis on children living in poverty, children with disabilities and children learning English, the news release said.