Last week, the Department of Education began accepting applications for the nearly $27 million in Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program grant funds available this year to schools and non-profits seeking support for their early literacy efforts. ALA and its grassroots successfully advocated vociferously last year for Congress to support IAL at this level of funding and are doing so again for FY 2017.

Any eligible applicant seeking a grant has until May 9, 2016 to submit its proposal. DOE is expected to announce its grant awards in July. One half of the grant funds available are reserved for school libraries with the remainder open to non-profit organizations. Grants can be awarded on either a one- or two-year cycle. For more details about the application process, please see the DOE’s formal Notice published in the April 7 Federal Register. It should also be posted soon on the Department of Education’s own IAL page.

For more information, visit the ALA Washington Office’s District Dispatch.

Author: Meg Featheringham, KQ Editor

Meg Featheringham is responsible for the development and production of the AASL journal, Knowledge Quest. When not working at AASL, Meg enjoys playing euchre, attending concerts and plays, spending time with family and friends, and reading (of course).

Categories: Education News, News