Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant

Background

In September 2020, the U.S. Department of Education awarded Colorado a $16 million grant to implement the Colorado Comprehensive Literacy Project, which aims to advance literacy skills for children from birth to grade 12 with special emphasis on children living in poverty, English learners and children with disabilities

The Comprehensive Literacy State Development Program is a competitive federal grant that seeks to improve literacy in the state by using evidence-based practices, activities and interventions, including pre-literacy skills. The grant will span five years and will provide funding to districts through a competitive grant process.

The grant will provide professional development and technical assistance, literacy coaching, and will help districts disseminate family literacy information. Ninety-five percent of the funds will be directed to school districts, both rural and urban that are geographically diverse, and funds will be distributed to at least three Qualified Opportunity Zones throughout Colorado.

The Colorado Comprehensive Literacy Project activities will also create an infrastructure for districts to develop their own local literacy plans and to apply for funding to implement research-based literacy strategies and interventions. The timeline and process for distributing the funds through a competitive process is still being determined.

Colorado Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) Grant Application Documents

* Round 2 Application Deadline October 29, 2021 by 11:59pm

The Colorado Department of Education will be reopening the Colorado Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) Grant for a Round 2 of applications. The CLSD Grant awards will be for 4-years. Round 2 Applicants will have a shortened Year 1 (January 1, 2022-September 30, 2022) and a full 12-month grant cycle in Years 2-4 (October 1-September 30). There is a total of $15,401,552 available funds over the 4-year grant. Remaining Year 1 funds available for distribution is approximately $3.3 million.

News and Events

CLSD Subaward Grant Winners –

The Comprehensive Literacy State Development grant program has selected finalists for subaward grants. Total subaward amount going to this group of districts is $4,901,879 for year 1 of the 4-year grant. The districts that will be awarded funds are:

Aurora Public Schools
Charter School Institute
Cherry Creek 5
Harrison 2
Lake County Schools
Lewis-Palmer
Pueblo 70
Sheridan 2
St. Vrain Valley School District
Telluride School District.

Peer Reviewers for Grant Application

The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) Competitive Grants and Awards Office seeks qualified individuals to review applications to help ensure that the investment of state and federal funds, in accordance with authorizing legislation, supports high-quality, evidence-based programs and student services; sustainable program development; and the achievement of intended outcomes. Read More

CLSD Impact Study

CLSD Literacy Consultant Advisory List

The final list of consultants approved to support CLSD District Subgrantees is now available.

View list of approved CLSD consultants

CLSD Literacy Consultant Assurances Form

Webinars

Application information webinar: 

Recorded Webinars:

CLSD Impact Study Webinar
- August 4, 2021, 12:30-1:00pm MT
- CLSD Impact Webinar Recording
- CLSD Impact Study Webinar Presentation (ppt)

July 8, 2021- CLSD Application Webinar: Eligibility and core components of the grant:
- CLSD Eligibility TA (ppt)

May 21, 2021-CLSD Application Webinar 
- CLSD Application Webinar Recording, Recording Password: 7Xj21rd#
- CLSD Webinar Presentation (ppt)

CLOSEDCLSD Statewide Literacy Consultant Application

The purpose of this request for applications (RFA) is to solicit applications for the CLSD Statewide Literacy Consultant. This is for a limited-term, scope specific, 1 year contract up to $25,000. The CLSD Statewide Literacy Consultant will assist CDE and the CLSD Program Grant Manager to:

Conduct a fair and equitable consultant application and review process for approved CLSD Literacy Consultants
Select and adopt an effective coaching framework to be used with CLSD Literacy Consultants and subgrantees
Create a professional development program for CLSD Literacy Consultants
Develop TA and guidance documents for CLSD Literacy Consultants

CLSD Resource Center: https://sites.google.com/cde.state.co.us/clsd-resource-center/home

For more information please email Stacey Smith CLSD manager.

For more information about the Comprehensive Literacy State Development Program, please click here.

This webpage will be updated with news, resources, and additional information as work on the project develops.