Superintendent Balow Announces $43.3 Million Federal Literacy Grant

Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow announced at a media conference Friday that the Wyoming Department of Education has received the Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Grant, which is awarded by the U.S. Department of Education. According to a news release from the WDE, year one funding for Wyoming will be $8.6 million; with continued eligibility over the next five years, the total could reach $43.3 million. Superintendent Balow said the most important milestone in every student’s education tenure is being proficient at reading by third grade, and this grant is going to help Wyoming remondelusly in ensuring that as many children as possible reach that milestone and continue to grow.

The USED grant will be used to create a comprehensive state literacy program to advance literacy skills — including pre-literacy skills, reading, and writing — for students from birth through grade 12, including students with limited English proficiency and students with disabilities. All Wyoming school districts have the opportunity to benefit. Districts that have  struggled with literacy will have the opportunity to receive target training, coaching and technical assistance, and also be invited to apply for subgrants that will support the work at the district level. The WDE plans to release a request for applications in January 2021.