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Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and answers regarding the Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists Grant.

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Funding Calculations and Apportionment of Funds

  1. Who is eligible to receive Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists funds?

    Eligible school sites are defined as elementary school sites operated by a local educational agency (LEA), defined as an elementary or unified school district, county office of education (COE), or charter school, with an unduplicated pupil percentage of 97 percent or greater for pupils enrolled in kindergarten and grades 1 to 3, inclusive, based on 2021–22 Fall 1 census day pupil data submitted through the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS).

    The unduplicated pupil percentage for a school site is calculated by the sum of the number of unduplicated pupils eligible for free and reduced-price meals, English language learners, and youth in foster care, divided by each school site’s total enrollment for kindergarten and grades 1 to 3, inclusive.

  2. How will the funding be calculated?

    Allocation of funds to an eligible school site is based on an amount per pupil enrolled in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 3, inclusive, so that no LEA will receive less than $450,000 per eligible school site. Grant amounts will be determined using 2021–22 school enrollment data determined as of the CALPADS Fall 1 Certification.

    Allocations for eligible LEAs are available at the Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists (LCRS) Grant Program funding results web page.

  3. When can local educational agencies expect to receive the Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists funds?

    The California Department of Education (CDE) plans to release the first apportionment of funds, reflecting 50 percent of the allocation for each LEA, in early 2023; remaining funds will be released in spring 2023.

  4. What if a local educational agency does not want to receive funds?

    If an LEA does not wish to participate in the LCRS program, an Opt-Out Form may be submitted to the CDE by September 30, 2022.

    The Opt-Out Form is available on the LCRS Grant web page.

  5. Where can I find more information on Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists funds?

    Language governing the allocation and use of the LCRS funds can be found in Assembly Bill (AB) 185, Section 57 (Chapter 571, Statutes of 2022) External link opens in new window or tab..

    Additional information is available on the LCRS web page.

  6. What is the Standardized Account Code Structure (SACS) code for Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists?

    SACS Resource Code 6211: Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists.

  7. How long do I have to spend the funds?

    Funds are available for encumbrance through June 30, 2027.

Use of Funds and Expenditure Reporting

  1. What are the reporting requirements for local educational agencies receiving the Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists funds?

    LEAs receiving LCRS funds are required to submit the following reports:

    • Annual reports due by September 30 each year. These reports will include, but are not limited to, how funds are being used to employ literacy coaches and reading and literacy specialists for its eligible schools, how funds are being used to develop and implement school literacy programs, and how expenditures are impacting pupils’ literacy achievement, including for pupil subgroups.

    • A final report is expected by spring 2027 and no later than June 30, 2027. This report will include, but will not be limited to: how funds were used to employ literacy coaches and reading and literacy specialists for its eligible schools; how funds were used to develop and implement school literacy programs; how expenditures impacted pupils’ literacy achievement, including for pupil subgroups; and how the LEA plans to continue to fund literacy coaches and reading and literacy specialists past the award period.
  2. Is a template available for the reports local educational agencies are required to submit?

    The CDE will post a reporting template for the annual and final reports no later than December 31, 2022. LEAs will be required to report on the data requested in this template each year. Additional information on where and how to submit the report will be provided at a later time.

  3. What are the allowable uses of the Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists funds?

    Per AB 185, Section 57 External link opens in new window or tab., LCRS funds are to be used for developing school literacy programs, employing and training literacy coaches and reading and literacy specialists, and developing and implementing interventions for pupils in need of targeted literacy support.

  4. What is included in a school literacy program?
    Per AB 185 Section 57 External link opens in new window or tab., a school literacy program developed using LCRS funds includes the following:

    • Developing a school literacy plan that includes goals and actions to improve literacy acquisition for pupils in preschool, if applicable, and kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 3, inclusive. The plan shall identify metrics to measure progress toward the goals and actions.

    • Hiring at least one literacy coach or reading and literacy specialist per school to support educators and pupils in improving literacy instruction and pupil outcomes.

    • Increasing access to evidence-based literacy instruction, through strategies, including, but not limited to, any of the following:
      1. Providing bilingual reading specialists to support dual language acquisition and English language development programs.
      2. Developing and implementing culturally responsive curriculum and instruction.
      3. Providing professional development for educators and school leaders in literacy instruction and the use of data to identify and support struggling pupils.
      4. Providing professional development for educators and school leaders regarding implementation of the English Language Arts/English Language Development Curriculum Framework and the use of data to support effective instruction.

    • Establishing an evidence-based family literacy initiative, which may include but is not limited to, the following:
      1. Family literacy plans that identify literacy and biliteracy goals, benchmarks, and roles for all family members.
      2. Family literacy home visiting programs, including, but not limited to, “promotora” family literacy outreach specialists. LEAs may establish literacy and biliteracy home visits to engage families in how to best support their pupils and every family member in reaching their literacy goals.
      3. Extended-day, summer, or weekend family institutes related to literacy and biliteracy. LEAs are encouraged to work with in-house expanded learning programs to establish literacy and biliteracy support programs and literacy enrichment programs during after school, weekend, and summer hours.
      4. Public library family literacy partnerships, including, but not limited to, digital tools to support whole family literacy.
  5. Can funds be used to purchase assessment or intervention programs?
    Yes, if it is an essential component of a school literacy program.
  6. Can funds be used to pay for a substitute so staff may attend professional learning?

    Yes, LCRS funds may be used to pay for substitutes if reasonably necessary to implement the literacy related professional learning.

  7. Can funds be used to pay for travel costs for professional learning?

    Yes, LCRS funds may be used to pay for travel costs for state-sponsored regional trainings and/or communities of practice if reasonably necessary to implement the professional learning. Note that funds cannot be used to buy meals for participants at a professional learning event hosted with LCRS funds.

  8. Can funds be spent on educational paraprofessionals and/or classified staff related to the school literacy program developed using Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists funds?

    Yes, funds can be spent on professional learning for teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals who work with pupils, and classified staff that interact with pupils.

  9. Can local educational agencies receiving Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists funds also participate in the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing’s Reading and Literacy Supplemental Authorization Incentive Grant Program?

    Yes, LEAs who receive LCRS funds may also be eligible for the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing’s (CTC) Reading and Literacy Supplemental Authorization Incentive Grant Program. Read more about this grant program on the CTC’s Reading and Literacy Supplemental Authorization Incentive Grant Program web page External link opens in new window or tab..

  10. For eligible sites with grades outside of kindergarten through grade three, can funds be used to support those other grades?

    Yes. LCRS funds can be used to support all pupils, educators, and families at an eligible site. This includes developing a literacy plan.

  11. Can a local educational agency use Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists funds to purchase a license that will benefit the whole district?

    No, LCRS funds must be spent at eligible sites. For district-wide expenses, an LEA would have to use another funding source to support the portion of the service that would benefit non-eligible sites.

Support and Technical Assistance

  1. What supports will be provided to local educational agencies that receive these funds?

    The CDE will make available $25 million via a competitive grant to a COE to support the LCRS program. The COE, in conjunction with the CDE, will develop and provide training for educators to become literacy coaches and reading and literacy specialists, as well as provide professional learning, such as communities of practice, to support the other allowable activities of the grant. This COE will be available to support LEAs in 2023.

    CDE program staff are also available to support LEAs. LCRS program staff can be reached by email at PLIO@cde.ca.gov.

  2. What resources might be helpful as my district begins work on the Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists program?

    The following literacy initiatives/grants can serve as useful resources for work on the LCRS program:


    Additionally, the Quality Professional Learning Standards can help guide LEAs as they develop and implement professional learning with LCRS funds.

Contact Information

Program Questions:
Professional Learning Innovations Office
PLIO@cde.ca.gov

Fiscal Questions:
Categorical Allocations and Audit Resolution Office
CAAR@cde.ca.gov

Questions:   Professional Learning Innovations Office | PLIO@cde.ca.gov
Last Reviewed: Friday, February 3, 2023