More than $ 2.4 Million Available through Maryland’s Literacy Initiative Grants

Grant Assists Title I Schools in Implementing Literacy Programs

BALTIMORE – The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is seeking applications from local school districts for Maryland’s Early Literacy Grants, a $2.4 million grant program that assists up to 50 qualifying Title I schools in implementing an evidence-based literacy program that works with students to meet literacy proficiency targets. This grant will be based upon school- level needs and align with the school district’s comprehensive literacy plan, as well as Maryland’s State Comprehensive Literacy Plan.

Local school districts may apply on behalf of identified Title I schools in their districts. Applications must have clear literacy targets at each grade level, pre-kindergarten through grade 8, and must include early literacy intervention services and direct services for participating students. The application must also include a plan to collect monthly student progress data. Priority will be given to applications that have high concentrations of students living in poverty and/or strong evidence-based strategies and interventions.

Total available funds for the sub-grants are $2,425,000; the amount awarded to each qualifying school may not exceed $75,000.  MSDE will distribute up to 50 school grants during a two-year period and grants made to each school may be eligible for renewal after the two-year period. Please note the deadline for applications is Monday, September 17, 2018. All print and electronic copies of applications must be received by 3:00 p.m. Applications received after this time will not be considered.

An unbound original proposal, along with three bound copies, and an electronic copy in Microsoft Word format, MUST be submitted to:

Maryland State Department of Education

Office of Title I

200 West Baltimore Street

Baltimore, MD 21201-2595

Attention: Marcia Sprankle

Electronic copies should be sent by email to Gail Clark Dickson at Gail.Dickson@Maryland.gov or on a USB flash drive.

For more information on application formatting and procedures, please see the attached document from MSDE.

Early Literacy Initiative Request for Applications