Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant

Background

In September 2020, the U.S. Department of Education awarded Colorado a $16 million grant to implement the Colorado Comprehensive Literacy Project, which aims to advance literacy skills for children from birth to grade 12 with special emphasis on serving children living in poverty, English learners, and children with disabilities

The Comprehensive Literacy State Development Program is a competitive federal grant that seeks to improve literacy in the state by using evidence-based practices, activities and interventions, including pre-literacy skills. The grant will span five years and will provide funding to districts through a competitive grant process.

The grant provides professional development and technical assistance, literacy coaching, and will help districts disseminate family literacy information. Ninety-five percent of the funds are directed to school districts, with an additional focus on Qualified Opportunity Zones throughout Colorado.

The Colorado Comprehensive Literacy Project activities create an infrastructure for districts to develop their own local literacy plans and direct additional funding to implement research-based literacy strategies and interventions.

CLSD Subgrantee Resource Page

District Staff CLSD Info

Subgrantee Handbook

CLSD Original Cohort Subgrant Awards

The CLSD funds support the original cohort of subgrantees for a duration of four years, commencing in the fall of the 2021-2022 school year and continuing through the 2024-2025 school year. CDE has committed to allocating at least 95% of the $16.1 million it received directly to districts through subawards. The districts were chosen to receive funding via a competitive selection process. Although there are shared components across projects, each one is distinct, tailored to address the specific needs for expanding comprehensive literacy efforts within their respective communities.

Request for Application 5/21/2021

CLSD Supplemental PD Cohort Subgrant Awards

In January 2023, CDE was invited to apply for supplemental CLSD funds for the remainder of the grant. CDE applied for, and was awarded, $1.5 million. It was decided to use these funds to support a separate cohort of grantees with a scaled-back scope of work for the remaining 2 years.

Request for Application 5/24/2023

CLSD Original Cohort Subaward Grant Winners: