Deadline to Apply: Tuesday, March 19 - 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 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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Feb. 7, 4 p.m. ET: was the deadline for questions.
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March 19, 4 p.m. ET: Application submission deadline. All applications must be sent to KDERFP.
Review the links within the RFA for further guidance when writing the submission. If you have any questions, contact KDERFP.
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 Resources to Support Curriculum Implementation Now Available
To support effective implementation of a local curriculum and aligned high-quality instructional resources (HQIRs), the Kentucky Department of Education’s Curriculum-Based Professional Learning Guidance document now includes science-specific resources including:
Versions of these resources also exist for mathematics and reading/writing to support the three stages (Launch, Early and Ongoing) of HQIR implementation.
ICYMI: Science Instructional Resources Consumer Guide Now Available!
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has created a consumer guide to support districts in evaluating and selecting high-quality instructional resources (HQIRs) for science.
The "Science Instructional Resources Consumer Guide" is intended to help decision-makers in Kentucky districts select high-quality science instructional resources aligned to the Kentucky Academic Standards for Science that meet the unique needs of students, educators and local communities. The guide includes:
- An introduction that highlights the importance of HQIRs and how selection of instructional resources fits within the Curriculum Development Process;
- An overview of specific markers and equity “look-fors” of high-quality science instructional resources;
- Four key steps districts may use as they seek resources, evaluate their effectiveness and ultimately select high-quality primary and supplemental resources for use in schools;
- Key questions to consider when working through each step;
- General and content-specific tools to support local teams in the selection process; and
- Considerations for navigating the current science market.
The "Science Instructional Resources Consumer Guide" is available now on the High-Quality Instructional Resources webpage on KYstandards.org.
Register Now for the Reading and Writing HQIR Implementation Community of Practice
Per amendments to KRS 158.305 as part of Senate Bill 156 (2023), by July 1, 2024, “each superintendent … shall adopt a common comprehensive reading program that is determined by the department to be reliable, valid and aligned to reading and writing standards … for kindergarten through grade three (3) for all schools or a subset of schools, with consultation of all affected elementary school councils.”
To assist districts in effectively implementing an approved Tier 1 comprehensive reading program so the resource adopted ultimately leads to high-quality instruction and improved student outcomes, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is offering a community of practice, beginning in April 2024, for district and school leaders responsible for supporting curriculum implementation. Applicable role groups might include district instructional supervisors, High-Quality Instructional Resource (HQIR) coordinators, building principals and instructional coaches.
The community of practice will build capacity using key tools to support local implementation of an HQIR including:
Participants will have opportunities to network with other districts across the state while working through the first year of implementation and to learn from districts who are further along in their implementation journey. Each virtual session will tentatively meet from 10:00-11:30 a.m., ET on the following dates:
- April 18, 2024
- June 6, 2024
- August 8, 2024
- October 10, 2024
- December 12, 2025
- February 13, 2025
- April 17, 2025
Online registration is open through March 29, 2024. Please contact Fox DeMoisey or Misty Higgins if you have any questions.
PLEASE NOTE: To assist districts in effectively selecting an approved Tier 1 comprehensive reading program, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) provides the Reading and Writing Instructional Resources Consumer Guide as well as a recording of the one-hour High-Quality Adoption Support webinar offered on November 20, 2023.
 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, 2024, at the Central Bank Center, formerly the Lexington Convention Center.
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 pathways 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 20 event, and please stay tuned for registration information coming soon.
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