Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) Program CFDA Number 84.215G | ED GRANTS 040716 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 040716 001

The Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) Program (CFDA 84.215G) is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE). Its main goal is to support strong, well-designed literacy efforts for children from birth through 12th grade, specifically in high-need local educational agencies (LEAs) and the schools they serve. The program is aimed at improving literacy outcomes across the full developmental span: building early literacy for very young children, encouraging and motivating older students to read more, and boosting overall academic achievement through literacy-focused strategies. A central theme of the program is using school libraries as active partners in literacy improvement, along with efforts like distributing free books to children and families and providing high-quality literacy activities that are grounded in a clear, evidence-informed theory of how the project will produce results.

The Department emphasizes innovation and quality, meaning applicants are expected to propose programs that are more than just general reading support. Projects should show a thoughtful plan for how literacy skills will be developed and improved, and they should reflect approaches supported by evidence or at least a strong rationale tied to research and practice. The opportunity highlights several example strategies the Department intends to support: early childhood literacy programming, initiatives that get older students engaged and interested in reading, school library partnerships that expand students access to literacy resources, and book distribution models that help build home libraries and family reading habits. Overall, the program is framed around both access (making sure students have books and resources) and instruction/engagement (making sure students are participating in meaningful literacy experiences).

Eligibility is limited to certain types of applicants connected to high-need communities. An applicant must be either a high-need LEA; a national not-for-profit organization (NNP) serving children and students within the attendance boundaries of one or more high-need LEAs; a consortium of those eligible NNPs serving within those same boundaries; a consortium of high-need LEAs; or a mixed consortium made up of one or more high-need LEAs and one or more NNPs serving within the attendance boundaries of one or more high-need LEAs. In addition to fitting one of those categories, applicants are expected to coordinate with school libraries when developing project proposals, reinforcing the program focus on libraries as key delivery partners for literacy resources and learning opportunities.

This specific notice also includes an important clarification tied to congressional intent and prior IAL competitions: the Secretary reserves the right to direct at least 50 percent of available IAL funds to LEAs that submit strong applications for school library projects. These library-focused projects are expected to increase access to a broad range of literacy resources, whether print or digital, and to create learning opportunities for all students. In practice, that means LEA-led proposals connected to school libraries may receive a substantial share of available funding if they are high-quality and aligned with the program goals. The supplemental notice is described as a clarification rather than a change, meaning it does not rewrite the original application notice published April 7, 2016; it simply reinforces how the Department may prioritize awards.

Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and cannot be submitted by email. Applicants have to locate the application package by searching the CFDA number without the letter suffix, meaning the search should be for 84.215 rather than 84.215G. The funding opportunity is identified as ED GRANTS 040716 001, with an original closing date of May 9, 2016, and an expectation of 32 awards. For the full set of requirements such as priorities, performance measures, and detailed submission instructions, applicants are directed to the official Federal Register notice (81 FR 20376) and related materials, since the opportunity description provided is only a synopsis and the Federal Register publication controls in the event of any differences.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) Program CFDA Number 84.215G" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.215.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-04-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-05-09. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 32 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for ED GRANTS 040716 001

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