FY24 Reading Diagnostic and Intervention Fund Mini Grant RFA
The Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) Office of Teaching and Learning has issued a request for applications (RFA) for the fiscal year 2024 Reading Diagnostic and Intervention Fund Mini-Grants.
Kentucky public school districts must apply on behalf of individual schools. The Kentucky School for the Blind and Kentucky School for the Deaf also are eligible to apply.
The RFA can be found on the Competitive Grants from KDE webpage.
As specified in KRS 158.792, the Reading Diagnostic and Intervention fund is created to help teachers and library media specialists improve the reading skills of struggling readers in kindergarten through grade 3. The Reading Diagnostic and Intervention Fund mini grant will help districts adopt high-quality instructional resources (HQIRs) that support the implementation of structured literacy practices for tier 2 and/or tier 3 reading instruction in kindergarten through grade 3.
Primary, or tier 1, HQIRs rated green on EdReports are recommended instructional resources for tier 1 and 2 instruction. Therefore, HQIRs rated green on EdReports may be considered for purchase with mini-grant funds for the purpose of implementing tier 2 instruction.
A district/school shall use funding to purchase instructional resources to support the implementation of structured literacy practices, supplement – not replace – the classroom comprehensive reading program, and align with the KDE’s definition of HQIRs as listed below:
- Aligned with the Kentucky Academic Standards (KAS) for Reading and Writing;
- Research-based and/or externally validated;
- Comprehensive to include engaging texts (books, multimedia, etc.), tasks and assessments;
- Based on fostering vibrant student learning experiences;
- Culturally relevant, free from bias; and
- Accessible for all students.
Important Dates
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Jan. 31, 10-11 a.m. ET: Technical assistance webinar. Attending or watching this recorded session is recommended.
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Feb. 7, 4 p.m. ET: Deadline for questions. All questions must be sent to KDERFP@education.ky.gov.
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March 19, 4 p.m. ET: Application submission deadline. All applications must be sent to KDERFP@education.ky.gov.
- Review the links within the RFA for further guidance when writing the submission. If you have any questions, contact KDERFP@education.ky.gov.
- Please pay close attention to the blinding/redacted language within the RFA. Improperly blinded grants WILL be deemed non-responsive and NOT eligible for award.
NEW Science Professional Learning Module and Webinar: Improving Student Engagement in the Science Classroom Using a Driving Question Board
The Improving Student Engagement in the Science Classroom Using a Driving Question Board (DQB) module is intended to provide guidance in the successful implementation of a driving question board, supporting the three-dimensional student learning called for in the Kentucky Academic Standards (KAS) for Science. During this professional learning module, participants will:
- Learn what a driving question board is and understand its purpose in the science classroom,
- Identify ways that the driving question board can build a community of learners,
- Analyze how a cohesive storyline can be built around an anchoring phenomenon, and
- Generate ideas for how a driving question board can be used as a formative assessment tool.
A Facilitator's Guide, PowerPoint presentation, Participant Packet, Driving Question Board Poster and Module-at-a-Glance are all available on the Science Professional Learning Modules webpage.
The Kentucky Department of Education science program consultants will be offering a series of webinars to work through this professional learning module. This webinar offers an opportunity for K-12 science educators to engage with one another as learners and practitioners, considering how to improve student engagement in the science classroom using a driving question board.
The webinar will consist of four sessions. Each session will consist of a 1-1/2 hour synchronous virtual session, paired with asynchronous opportunities between each session. It is very important that participants are committed to attend all four sessions, since each session builds upon one another. Skipping sessions may result in less effective learning about how the driving question board can support coherence and equity in the science classroom.
The asynchronous opportunities will consist of supporting participants in planning their next steps for implementing a driving question board.
Webinar Dates and Times
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Session 1: Feb. 8, 4:30-6 p.m. ET
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Session 2: Feb. 22, 4:30-6 p.m. ET
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Session 3: March 7, 4:30-6 p.m. ET
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Session 4: March 21, 4:30- p.m. ET
Educators interested in this webinar should complete the Improving Student Engagement in the Science Classroom Using a Driving Question Board (DQB) registration no later than Wednesday, Feb. 7. You will receive the link to the webinar following your registration.
Educators will be eligible to receive up to eight professional development hours for their participation in the webinars and the asynchronous learning opportunities. (Note: The decision to accept professional development hours is at the discretion of the local school/district.)
Please submit any questions to kdescience@education.ky.gov .
Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference Date Announced
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) Office of Teaching and Learning (OTL), Division of Early Literacy invites you to the first annual Kentucky Reads to Succeed Summer Conference on June 20.
Keynote speaker and educational journalist Emily Hanford, host of the Sold a Story podcast, the second-most-shared show on Apple Podcasts in 2023 and one of Time magazine’s top three podcasts of the year, has been covering education for American Public Media since 2008. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the EWA Public Service Award in 2019 for Hard Words and the 2017 Excellence in Media Reporting on Education Research Award from the American Educational Research Association.
The conference will require registration, but will be free to Kentucky K-12 public educators and will offer focused learning paths to meet the needs of teachers and administrators. Attendees will learn from KDE OTL consultants and partners about:
- Evidence-based instructional shifts for literacy;
- The benefits of structured literacy;
- Why high-quality instructional resources matter; and
- Available resources for implementing the Read to Succeed Act.
Mark your calendar for this June 20th event, and please stay tuned for registration information coming soon.
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