§6661d. Local reading improvement subgrants

(a) In general

(1) Subgrants

A State educational agency that receives a grant under section 6661b of this title shall make subgrants, on a competitive basis, to local educational agencies that either-

(A) have at least one school that is identified for school improvement under section 6317(c) of this title in the geographic area served by the agency;

(B) have the largest, or second largest, number of children who are counted under section 6333(c) of this title, in comparison to all other local educational agencies in the State; or

(C) have the highest, or second highest, school-age child poverty rate, in comparison to all other local educational agencies in the State.

For purposes of subparagraph (C), the term "school-age child poverty rate" means the number of children counted under section 6333(c) of this title who are living within the geographic boundaries of the local educational agency, expressed as a percentage of the total number of children aged 5–17 years living within the geographic boundaries of the local educational agency.

(2) Subgrant amount

A subgrant under this section shall consist of an amount sufficient to enable the subgrant recipient to operate a program for a 2-year period and may not be revoked or terminated on the grounds that a school ceases, during the grant period, to meet the requirements of subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1).

(b) Applications

A local educational agency that desires to receive a subgrant under this section shall submit an application to the State educational agency at such time, in such manner, and including such information as the agency may require. The application-

(1) shall describe how the local educational agency will work with schools selected by the agency to receive assistance under subsection (d)(1) of this section-

(A) to select one or more programs of reading instruction, developed using scientifically based reading research, to improve reading instruction by all academic teachers for all children in each of the schools selected by the agency under such subsection and, where appropriate, for their parents; and

(B) to enter into an agreement with a person or entity responsible for the development of each program selected under subparagraph (A), or a person with experience or expertise about the program and its implementation, under which the person or entity agrees to work with the local educational agency and the schools in connection with such implementation and improvement efforts;

(2) shall include an assurance that the local educational agency-

(A) will carry out professional development for the classroom teacher and other instructional staff on the teaching of reading based on scientifically based reading research;

(B) will provide family literacy services based on programs such as the Even Start family literacy model authorized under part B of subchapter I of this chapter, to enable parents to be their child's first and most important teacher;

(C) will carry out programs to assist those kindergarten students who are not ready for the transition to first grade, particularly students experiencing difficulty with reading skills; and

(D) will use supervised individuals (including tutors), who have been appropriately trained using scientifically based reading research, to provide additional support, before school, after school, on weekends, during noninstructional periods of the school day, or during the summer, for children preparing to enter kindergarten and students in kindergarten through grade 3 who are experiencing difficulty reading;

(3) shall describe how the applicant will ensure that funds available under this part, and funds available for reading instruction for kindergarten through grade 6 from other appropriate sources, are effectively coordinated, and, where appropriate, integrated with funds under this chapter in order to improve existing activities in the areas of reading instruction, professional development, program improvement, parental involvement, technical assistance, and other activities that can help meet the purposes of this part;

(4) shall describe, if appropriate, how parents, tutors, and early childhood education providers will be assisted by, and participate in, literacy-related activities receiving financial assistance under this part to enhance children's reading fluency;

(5) shall describe how the local educational agency-

(A) provides instruction in reading to children with reading difficulties who-

(i) are at risk of being referred to special education based on these difficulties; or

(ii) have been evaluated under section 1414 of this title but, in accordance with section 1414(b)(5) of this title, have not been identified as being a child with a disability (as defined in section 1401 of this title); and

(B) will promote reading and library programs that provide access to engaging reading material; and

(6) shall include an assurance that the local educational agency will make available, upon request and in an understandable and uniform format, to any parent of a student attending any school selected to receive assistance under subsection (d)(1) of this section in the geographic area served by the local educational agency, information regarding the professional qualifications of the student's classroom teacher to provide instruction in reading.

(c) Special rule

To the extent feasible, a local educational agency that desires to receive a grant under this section shall form a partnership with one or more community-based organizations of demonstrated effectiveness in early childhood literacy, and reading readiness, reading instruction, and reading achievement for both adults and children, such as a Head Start program, family literacy program, public library, or adult education program, to carry out the functions described in paragraphs (1) through (6) of subsection (b) of this section. In evaluating subgrant applications under this section, a State educational agency shall consider whether the applicant has satisfied the requirement in the preceding sentence. If not, the applicant must provide information on why it would not have been feasible for the applicant to have done so.

(d) Use of funds

(1) In general

Subject to paragraph (2), a local educational agency that receives a subgrant under this section shall use amounts from the subgrant to carry out activities to advance reform of reading instruction in any school that (A) is described in subsection (a)(1)(A) of this section, (B) has the largest, or second largest, number of children who are counted under section 6333(c) of this title, in comparison to all other schools in the local educational agency, or (C) has the highest, or second highest, school-age child poverty rate (as defined in the second sentence of subsection (a)(1) of this section), in comparison to all other schools in the local educational agency. Such activities shall include the following:

(A) Securing technical and other assistance from-

(i) a program of reading instruction based on scientifically based reading research;

(ii) a person or entity with experience or expertise about such program and its implementation, who has agreed to work with the recipient in connection with its implementation; or

(iii) a program providing family literacy services.

(B) Providing professional development activities to teachers and other instructional staff (including training of tutors), using scientifically based reading research and purchasing of curricular and other supporting materials.

(C) Promoting reading and library programs that provide access to engaging reading material.

(D) Providing, on a voluntary basis, training to parents of children enrolled in a school selected to receive assistance under this paragraph on how to help their children with school work, particularly in the development of reading skills. Such training may be provided directly by the subgrant recipient, or through a grant or contract with another person. Such training shall be consistent with reading reforms taking place in the school setting. No parent shall be required to participate in such training.

(E) Carrying out family literacy services based on programs such as the Even Start family literacy model authorized under part B of subchapter I of this chapter, to enable parents to be their child's first and most important teacher.

(F) Providing instruction for parents of children enrolled in a school selected to receive assistance under this paragraph, and others who volunteer to be reading tutors for such children, in the instructional practices based on scientifically based reading research used by the applicant.

(G) Programs to assist those kindergarten students enrolled in a school selected to receive assistance under this paragraph who are not ready for the transition to first grade, particularly students experiencing difficulty with reading skills.

(H) Providing additional support for children preparing to enter kindergarten and students in kindergarten through grade 3 who are enrolled in a school selected to receive assistance under this paragraph, who are experiencing difficulty reading, before school, after school, on weekends, during noninstructional periods of the school day, or during the summer, using supervised individuals (including tutors), who have been appropriately trained using scientifically based reading research.

(I) Providing instruction in reading to children with reading difficulties who-

(i) are at risk of being referred to special education based on these difficulties; or

(ii) have been evaluated under section 1414 of this title but, in accordance with section 1414(b)(5) of this title, have not been identified as being a child with a disability (as defined in section 1401 of this title).

(J) Providing coordination of reading, library, and literacy programs within the local educational agency to avoid duplication and increase the effectiveness of reading, library, and literacy activities.

(2) Limitation on administrative expenses

A recipient of a subgrant under this section may use not more than 5 percent of the subgrant funds for administrative costs.

(e) Training nonrecipients

A recipient of a subgrant under this section may train, on a fee-for-service basis, personnel from schools, or local educational agencies, that are not a beneficiary of, or receiving, such a subgrant, in the instructional practices based on scientifically based reading research used by the recipient. Such a nonrecipient school or agency may use funds received under subchapter I of this chapter, and other appropriate Federal funds used for reading instruction, to pay for such training, to the extent consistent with the law under which such funds were received.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title II, §2255, as added Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, §101(f) [title VIII, §101(a)(2)], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–337 , 2681-397.)

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 6661b, 6661e, 6661g, 6661h of this title.