The Federal Government Awards $20M Grant to Support Reading Skills in Alaska

The U.S. Federal Government has awarded the state of Alaska a $20.7 million-dollar grant to support reading skills in programs throughout the state, the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) announced on Tuesday October 2, 2019.

The grant will be distributed by the U.S. Department of Education over a five-year period. The current school year will receive $4.9 million, followed by $3.9 million each year for four years.

DEED has a strategic plan to “Support ALL students to read at grade level by the end of third grade” (DEED 2019). The state’s education Commissioner Michael Johnson said DEED applied for this grant for that purpose.

The state is developing a literacy program that will include reading coaches and the teachers will receive a specialized training.

The state will also open an application for school district to apply for sub-grants. These sub-grants will support programs related to reading skills. The details for the application process will be shared with the public in the next coming weeks. There are 17 school districts and organizations in Alaska. They will all be able to apply for these sub-grants.

Some of the other goals DEED has for the year are:

· Increase career, technical, and culturally relevant education to meet student and workforce needs

· Close the achievement gap by ensuring equitable educational rigor and resources

· Prepare, attract, and retain effective education professionals

· Improve the safety and well-being of students through school partnerships with families, communities, and tribes.

The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development’s mission is to provide “An excellent education for every student every day.” To learn more about their education strategic plan, visit their website.

To find a grant related to education, please visit GrantWatch. They have a number of grants available within the are of education and are a great resource when looking for funding.