📚 Louisiana Secures $15 Million Grant to Boost Literacy! 🚀
Louisiana Department of Education has been awarded $15 million to lead a multi-year study focused on strengthening early literacy instruction through high-dosage tutoring for young students in Louisiana and across the nation.
The competitive grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Education’s Education Innovation and Research program and recognizes Louisiana’s progress in implementing evidence-based reading strategies. The funding builds on years of targeted investment by state lawmakers and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education aimed at improving student reading outcomes.
“Louisiana has shown what’s possible when states are trusted to lead,” said State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley. “We are grateful to the U.S. Department of Education for their confidence in our strategy and for investing in a Louisiana-designed solution to accelerate student literacy.”
The five-year project will focus on expanding high-dosage literacy tutoring for approximately 4,500 students in grades 1 and 2 who are reading below grade level. Participating schools will include:
- Rural campuses
- Urban campuses
- Suburban campuses
With at least 25 percent located in rural communities. Both traditional public schools and charter schools will take part in the study.
The Louisiana Department of Education will oversee the project by coordinating with schools, selecting participating sites, managing partnerships, tracking student progress and sharing findings publicly. Key partners include:
- Air Reading
- Studyville
- Johns Hopkins University
- Louisiana higher education institutions that will assist in recruiting college tutors.
Louisiana’s literacy strategy has produced measurable gains in recent years. The state now ranks 16th in the nation for fourth-grade reading, up from 50th in 2019, according to The Nation’s Report Card. State leaders attribute the improvement to:
- Science-of-reading instruction
- Expanded tutoring programs
- Increased parent engagement
“Receiving this grant is an exciting validation of the work happening across Louisiana,” said Deputy Superintendent Jenna Chiasson. “It enables us to expand tutoring that is evidence-based, responsive to students, and focused on reading success.”
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