Budgeting for Success: Acquiring Funding for District Literacy Efforts

For pre-K–12 administrators, it can be difficult to find funding that supports research-proven,  effective strategies that encourage every student to become a successful reader and confident learner. Districts need solutions that make literacy a reality for all students, regardless of their ethnicity, background, or learning challenges.

However, finding and securing funding for district initiatives that support this vital literacy instruction can be challenging as options for support shift or, in some cases, come to an end.

Fortunately, despite these changes, federal and state funds as well as private grants are still available to help pre-K–12 leaders secure the budget to make these literacy programs a reality.

This guide explores three categories of funding available for literacy improvement efforts:

• Federal funding—Each funding program has different criteria or intended uses, such as assisting schools that have a certain percentage of low-income students, improving students’ English language proficiency, supporting professional development, or assisting with comprehensive literacy programming.

• State funding—Depending on the state or region, various programs are available to help local districts improve the reading and language skills that support student success.

• Private foundations—Private foundation funding varies by source, with support available for programs such as those targeting elementary education, English language learning, and reading instruction.

This guide also offers information to help administrators pinpoint the support that best fits their districts’ needs, recommending next steps for building a sustainable, long-term funding strategy to strengthen reading and learning. 

Download the guide now to explore funding options for investing in high-quality literacy instruction and professional learning.