Innovative Approaches to Literacy 84.215G
Can you apply?
This grant is for public school districts and nonprofits working to improve literacy in high-need communities. Applicants must be a local educational agency (LEA) where 20% or more students are from low-income families, a consortium of such LEAs, the Bureau of Indian Education, or a national nonprofit serving children in eligible LEA attendance areas. School libraries, early literacy programs through healthcare providers, and book distribution initiatives are supported. Programs must serve children from birth through 12th grade in high-poverty districts.
Eligible LEAs are determined using U.S. Census Bureau poverty data (SAIPE). Organizations that serve multiple LEAs must provide poverty data for each individual LEA to establish eligibility. County offices of education and regional service agencies can qualify if their aggregated poverty rate meets the 20% threshold across all LEAs served.
This grant is for public school districts and nonprofits working to improve literacy in high-need communities. Applicants must be a local educational agency (LEA) where 20% or more students are from low-income families, a consortium of such LEAs, the Bureau of Indian Education, or a national nonprofit serving children in eligible LEA attendance areas. School libraries, early literacy programs through healthcare providers, and book distribution initiatives are supported. Programs must serve children from birth through 12th grade in high-poverty districts.
Eligible LEAs are determined using U.S. Census Bureau poverty data (SAIPE). Organizations that serve multiple LEAs must provide poverty data for each individual LEA to establish eligibility. County offices of education and regional service agencies can qualify if their aggregated poverty rate meets the 20% threshold across all LEAs served.
Program description
The Employment and Training Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor (Labor), is soliciting applications in support of the administration of the Innovative Approaches to Literacy program on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education (ED). The Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program supports high-quality programs designed to develop and improve literacy skills for children and students from birth through 12th grade in high-need local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools. IAL promotes innovative literacy programs that support the development of literacy skills in low-income communities, including programs that (1) develop and enhance effective school library programs, which may include providing professional development for school librarians, books, and up-to-date materials to high-need schools; (2) provide early literacy services, including pediatric literacy programs through which, during well-child visits, medical providers trained in research-based methods of early language and literacy promotion provide developmentally appropriate books and recommendations to parents to encourage them to read aloud to their children starting in infancy; and (3) provide high-quality books on a regular basis to children and adolescents from low-income communities to increase reading motivation, performance, and frequency. By expanding access to high‐quality books, strengthening school library programs, and promoting early language and literacy development in low‐income communities, the IAL program directly advances the goal of increasing reading proficiency. These strategies build strong foundational skills from birth through adolescence, ensuring that children and students—particularly those in high‐need LEAs—receive the targeted supports necessary to improve their reading motivation, performance, and long‐term literacy outcomes.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for public school districts and nonprofits working to improve literacy in high-need communities. Applicants must be a local educational agency (LEA) where 20% or more students are from low-income families, a consortium of such LEAs, the Bureau of Indian Education, or a national nonprofit serving children in eligible LEA attendance areas. School libraries, early literacy programs through healthcare providers, and book distribution initiatives are supported. Programs must serve children from birth through 12th grade in high-poverty districts.
Eligible LEAs are determined using U.S. Census Bureau poverty data (SAIPE). Organizations that serve multiple LEAs must provide poverty data for each individual LEA to establish eligibility. County offices of education and regional service agencies can qualify if their aggregated poverty rate meets the 20% threshold across all LEAs served.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- SAIPE poverty data verification documentation
- Proof of LEA eligibility status
- Abstract/Summary of project
Program contact
- 👤 Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
- 📧 Simon.Earle@ed.gov
- 📞 202-693-2606
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 84.215 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$32,439,903
-
$30,000,000
-
$30,000,000
-
$29,998,733
-
$29,980,190
-
$29,737,423
-
$29,621,915
-
$29,504,487
-
$29,188,017
-
$27,967,275
Top States by Funding
- KY 15 awards $185.3M
- CA 9 awards $99.0M
- IN 7 awards $73.2M
- IL 10 awards $70.8M
- NJ 3 awards $63.6M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply?
Public school districts and LEAs with 20%+ students from low-income families, consortiums of such districts, the Bureau of Indian Education, and national nonprofits serving eligible LEA areas. You must verify poverty eligibility using U.S. Census Bureau SAIPE data.
What activities does this grant fund?
School library development and librarian training, early literacy programs through pediatric visits, and book distribution to low-income children. Programs must serve students birth through 12th grade in high-need districts.
What is the deadline?
The deadline is June 9, 2026. Check the Federal Register announcement for any updates to deadline dates.
How much funding is available?
Approximately $16.8 million total is available in this competition. Individual award amounts are not specified in the announcement.
Is cost-sharing required?
No, cost-sharing is not required for this grant.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Verify your LEA's poverty rate using the U.S. Census Bureau SAIPE data before applying. Use the most recent available data to confirm 20% threshold eligibility.
- If your organization serves multiple LEAs, aggregate poverty data across all of them. Individual LEAs below 20% may still qualify if combined rate meets the threshold.
- Focus your proposal on one of three evidence-based strategies: school libraries, pediatric literacy programs, or book distribution. Explain how your approach targets low-income communities.
- Clearly describe how your program will improve reading proficiency and long-term literacy outcomes. Connect activities to research-based literacy development methods.
- If partnering with healthcare providers for early literacy, include letters of support showing their commitment to training and implementation.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Failing to verify poverty eligibility using current SAIPE data before applying. Proposing programs that don't clearly target the three authorized activities: school libraries, pediatric literacy, or book distribution. Submitting vague proposals without specific, measurable literacy outcome goals or evidence-based literacy development strategies.
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