Striving Readers (84.371)

Program

84.371 Striving Readers

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Education
Office: Office Of Elementary And Secondary Education

Authorization

Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, Title I, Part E, Section 1502.

Program Number

84.371

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To raise student achievement by improving the reading skills of middle and high school students who are reading below grade level. Striving Readers supports the implementation and evaluation of research-based reading interventions for struggling middle and high school readers in Title I-eligible schools at risk of not meeting or not meeting annual yearly progress requirements under the ESEA and/or that have significant percentages or numbers of students reading below grade level.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Successful applicants must use these funds to carry out the activities described in their approved applications. Striving Reader programs include supplemental literacy intervention strategies targeted to students who are reading significantly below grade level; cross-disciplinary strategies for improving student literacy that may include professional development for subject matter teachers and use of research-based reading strategies in classrooms across subject areas; and a strong experimental evaluation component. Grant recipients, must, for example, use funds for reasonable costs needed to implement a supplemental literacy intervention, which may include additional staff time for extra periods of instruction, age-appropriate reading materials for struggling adolescent readers, assessment instruments, professional development opportunities for staff focused on literacy, and evaluation. Funds must be used in Title I-eligible public schools serving grades 6-12 with significant numbers of students reading below grade level.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

The following are eligible to apply for a Striving Readers grant: (1) One or more local educational agencies (LEAs) that receive Title I funds and have one or more high schools or middle schools with significant numbers of students reading below grade level and are at risk of not meeting or are not meeting Title I annual yearly progress requirements; (2) Intermediate service agencies on behalf of one or more local educational agencies that receive Title I funds and have one or more high schools or middle schools with significant numbers of students reading below grade level and are at risk of not meeting or are not meeting Title I annual yearly progress requirements; or (3) Partnerships that may include public or private institutions of higher education, eligible nonprofit or for-profit organizations (or consortia of such institutions or organizations), and LEAs that have one or more high schools or middle schools with significant numbers of students reading below grade level and are at risk of not meeting or are not meeting Title I adequate yearly progress requirements.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Adolescent students (in grades 6-12) who are reading below grade level. LEAs that have one or more high schools or middle schools with significant numbers of students reading below grade level or that are at risk of not meeting or are not meeting Title I adequate yearly progress requirements.

Credentials/Documentation

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Those applicants that are invited to submit a full application must prepare and submit one in accordance with the notice that will be published in the Federal Register. By the due date, eligible applicants must submit to the U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, a complete application. Required assurances and certifications include: Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF 422B); Certification regarding Lobbying, Debarment; Suspension and Other Responsibility Matter, and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements (ED Form 80-0013); Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF LLL) (if applicable); Response to Notice to All Applicants (Section 427, GEPA). Applications should also include a Cover Page (SF424); the required Budget Form (ED Form 524); an itemized budget and other budget information; proof of eligibility; a project abstract; and a program narrative that includes responses to selection criteria. Applicants are encouraged to submit (1) one original and (2) copies of their application.

Award Procedure

The Department of Education notifies successful applicants of awards. Contact the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education at StrivingReaders@ed.gov for more information.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

The range of approval/disapproval time is approximately 60 to 120 days following the full application deadline.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Applicants may apply for a project period of up to five years. Renewals are subject to the availability of appropriations and satisfactory progress.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Projects are funded for a period of up to five years. Renewals are subject to the availability of appropriations and satisfactory progress. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Electronic transfer.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Annual progress reports must be submitted during each budget period in order to receive continuation awards. Final performance reports and a final evaluation report must be submitted after the end of the grant period. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. Expenditure reports are not applicable. Performance monitoring is included in the annual progress report.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR 80. State and local governments that receive financial assistance of $100,000 or more within the State's fiscal year shall have an audit made for that year. State and local governments that receive between $25,000 and $100,000 within the State's fiscal year shall have an audit made in accordance with the Appendix to EDGAR, Part 80.

Records

In accordance with the General Education Provisions Act and the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), certain records must be retained for three years.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: The program served 73,556 secondary school students. Fiscal Year 2009: The program will serve an estimated 84,871 students. Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

91-0900-0-1-501.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $35,371,080; FY 09 est $35,371,000; FY 10 est $370,371,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

No Data Available.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), Parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99.

Related Programs

84.357 Reading First State Grants; 84.359 Early Reading First

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Marcia J. Kingman Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., S.W., Room 3C118, Washington, District of Columbia 20202 Email: marcia.kingman@ed.gov Phone: (202) 401-0003

Web Site Address

http://www.ed.gov/programs/strivingreaders/index.html.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: The program provides funds mainly to local school districts to implement and evaluate reading intervention programs for secondary school students who currently read below grade level. Fiscal Year 2009: Same as FY 2008. Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The selection criteria will be included in the full application package and published in the federal register notice. For additional information e-mail StrivingReaders@ed.gov.