Purpose of Program
IAL is a discretionary grant program designed to increase reading proficiency by supporting 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.
What is a High-Need LEA?
An LEA in which 20 percent or more of the students served by the LEA are from families with an income below the poverty line based on the U.S. Census Bureau's Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) data.
How is the IAL Program Evaluated?
- Percentage of fourth graders participating in the project who demonstrated individual student growth over the past year on State reading or language arts assessments
- Percentage of eighth graders participating in the project who demonstrated individual student growth over the past year on State reading or language arts assessments
- Percentage of schools participating in the project whose book-to-student ratios increase from the previous year
- Percentage of participating children who receive at least one free, grade- and language-appropriate book of their own
Who is Eligible to Participate in the IAL Grant Program?
- An LEA in which 20 percent or more of the students served by the LEA are from families with an income below the poverty line
- A consortium of such LEAs described above
- The Bureau of Indian Education
- An eligible national nonprofit organization that serves children and students within the attendance boundaries of one or more eligible LEAs
Research Associates' Impact:
Research Associates has helped to secure over $30 million in funded education grants for literacy initiatives including the IAL program.
Contact the Grant Experts:
Could your schools qualify for funding? To find out more about program requirements and eligibility, contact our knowledgeable team at Research Associates.