Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs: FY2008

The Massachusetts English Language Arts Curriculum Framework sets the goal that every child will be an effective reader and writer by the end of the third grade. Research demonstrates that the vast majority of students can learn to read and write through effective classroom instruction. Some students, however, may require short-term individualized early intervention. This grant program encourages districts to propose the following:

Supporting Reading Recovery, an early intervention individual tutorial literacy program that provides short-term intervention for students who are at risk of failing to learn to read by the end of first grade. This program should include:

1. a process for identifying students most in need of additional literacy support by mid-first grade;

2. program teachers who receive ongoing professional development support in early literacy intervention; and

3. ongoing documentation and evaluation of results, including subsequent referral to special education, retention, or long-term reading services.

The grant program encourages collaboratives along with school districts to propose the following:

Supporting a Reading Recovery regional training site for the training of teachers who can provide early intervention short-term individual tutorial literacy programs. This regional training site should include long-term university-based training for future teacher trainers that:

1. requires teacher trainers to participate in concurrent training and implementation of the tutorial;

2. has a training curriculum centering on theory of literacy acquisition, teaching practice, and leadership; and

3. results in a regional training site that coordinates data collection and reports program results in an annual report.

Approximately $2,900,000 is available, pending state appropriation. Of the $2,900,000, at least $500,000 is available, pending state appropriation, for matching grants to school districts to support the funding of Reading Recovery teachers in one-to-one early intervention tutorial programs. Districts and collaboratives may apply for up to the following amounts.

Funds to Support Regional Training Sites are also available.

Allowable budget expenditures include: consultants; course fees; related supplies; travel; matching funds to support the funding of Reading Recovery teachers; and other costs associated with the priorities of the grant program. If funds are to be used for the training of a Reading Recovery Teacher, an application must be on file with a Massachusetts Regional Teacher Training Site prior to submitting a grant proposal. A list of such sites is available by calling (617) 349-8165.

Funds for the support of a Regional Training Site must be used for professional development to increase the skills of teachers or trainers implementing the individual tutorial program. If funds applied for are to be used for the training of a Reading Recovery Teacher Leader, an application must be on file with the Massachusetts Teacher Leader Training Site prior to submitting a grant proposal. This application is available by calling (6l7) 349-8465. Continuing Contact for Reading Recovery Teachers should be in the Regional Training Site application, not on district applications.

Amy Carithers (781) 338-3508

Dorothy Earle (781) 338-6265

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Competitive proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. on the date due.