Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs: FY2008

Program priorities are to:

1. implement effective reading programs, including instructional materials as well as instructional strategies, for K-3 grades that are consistent with instructional principles derived from scientifically based research in reading;

2. use state selected methods for assessment of reading progress that include screening, diagnostic, progress monitoring, and outcome assessments;

3. provide high quality professional development to K-3 classroom teachers and K-12 special education teachers that will prepare these teachers in the five essential components of reading instruction, assessment training, intervention strategies, etc.;

4. provide high quality technical assistance to Reading First schools within the district;

5. develop an evaluation strategy that will provide valid and reliable information about the progress of all K-3 children in learning to read; and

6. provide data to the Massachusetts Department of Education for evaluation purposes.

Number of K-3 Students	Maximum FY2008
Per Eligible School	Award Per School
Up to 95 Students	$ 84,000
96 - 200 Students	$ 94,000
201 - 400 Students	$114,000
over 400 Students	$134,000

All maximum school awards have been increased this year in order to support the foundational professional development in reading of new teachers who participate in VoyagerU or Scholastic Red.

Reading First Plan funds may only be used to support the grant priorities in Reading First schools. Of the total award a district receives on behalf of its funded schools, up to 3.5% may be used for district-level administrative purposes.

In Reading First designated schools, funds may be used for specific purposes, including:

1. providing the salary of one full-time school-based K-3 Reading Specialist;

2. selecting and implementing a comprehensive scientifically based reading program (core, supplemental, and intensive intervention);

3. providing high quality professional development for K-3 teachers and K-12 special education teachers including the required participation of new teachers in the VoyagerU or Scholastic Red foundational professional development in reading;

4. purchasing assessments;

5. using TestWiz;

6. purchasing informational reading materials for students; and

7. other related items.

If all of the required components of Reading First have been funded, remaining funds may be used for trained interventionists who are delivering Reading First programs.

Note: Under normal circumstances, Reading First funds should not be used for professional development that local coaches and Department personnel have been trained to provide (e.g., data analysis, using assessment data to group students).

9/1/2007- 8/31/2008

As stipulated in the legislation, the Department may now consider discontinuation of funding if districts or individual schools do not implement fully all critical components of the project and/or do not demonstrate improvement in student reading achievement in grades 1-3. Discontinuation may occur if schools or districts do not demonstrate continued need. In order to receive continuation funds, districts will submit a budget, progress reports, and other information in a manner and at a time requested by the Department.

Cheryl Liebling, Administrator (781) 338-6225

Dorothy Earle (781) 338-6265

The Reading First application package, including the budget workbook, may be downloaded from the Grants Management Web site. Mail two copies of the signed cover page and assurances to Alexia Cribbs. The program components, budget workbook, and related documents should be submitted electronically to reading@doe.mass.edu. For questions, please contact Alexia Cribbs (781-338-3581).

Mail two copies of the signed cover page and assurances to:

Alexia Cribbs
Office of Reading and Language Arts
Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148-5023