Georgia Receives $180 Million for Literacy

The Georgia Department of Education has been awarded nearly $180 million to support literacy efforts in the state’s K-12 public schools through the federal Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant.

Georgia will receive a total of $179,174,766 over five years to continue the Literacy for Learning, Living, and Leading in Georgia (L4GA) initiative, which aims to improve literacy outcomes for students from birth through grade 12.

“Reading is an essential part of all other educational attainment; literacy is the key that unlocks the door to a lifetime of learning,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “Being awarded nearly $180 million through a competitive federal grant process shows that Georgia’s literacy efforts are viewed as strong, sustainable, and worthy of investment. The students of our state deserve no less.”

Woods praised L4GA leaders, Meghan Welch, Julie Morrill, and Caitlin McMunn Dooley, for securing this second round of competitive funding.

Ninety-five percent of Georgia’s award will be competitively awarded to local school districts and their community partners to serve students from birth through grade 12.

The sub-awards will take into account the poverty level of a community, the percentage of students reading below grade level, the recent rate of growth in the number of students reading above grade level, and whether a school is identified for support from the Department of Education’s School Improvement team.

The competitive sub-award process will be conducted this winter.