Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists 2022-27
Provides funds to develop literacy programs, employ and train literacy coaches and reading specialists, and develop and implement interventions for students needing targeted literacy support.Assembly Bill 181, Section 137 (Chapter 52, Statutes of 2022)
authorizes the Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists (LCRS) program. The sum of $250 million was appropriated from the General Fund to the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI) for the Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists Grant Program. Of the total funding, the SSPI shall allocate $225 million to eligible school sites to develop school literacy programs, employ and train literacy coaches and reading and literacy specialists, and develop and implement interventions for students in need of targeted literacy support. Of the funds appropriated, $25 million is available for the SSPI, in collaboration with the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (Commission), and subject to the approval of the executive director of the State Board of Education (SBE), to select a county office of education, through a competitive process, to develop and provide training for educators to become literacy coaches and reading and literacy specialists.
Funding
Funds are allocated based on an eligible site’s enrollment in kindergarten or any of grades one to three, inclusive, so that no local educational agency (LEA) shall receive less than $450,000 per eligible school site. Grant amounts will be determined using 2021–22 school enrollment data determined as of the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System Fall 1 Certification.
Funds may be expended during the 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–26, and 2026–27 fiscal years. A final report will be due on or before June 30, 2027. Any funds not encumbered by June 30, 2027, must be returned to the California Department of Education (CDE).
Allowable Uses of Funds
LCRS funds may be used to:
- Develop school literacy programs
- Employ and train literacy coaches and reading and literacy specialists
- Develop and implement interventions for students in need of targeted literacy support
Expenditures for school literacy programs may include:
- 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:
- Providing bilingual reading specialists to support dual language acquisition and English language development programs.
- Developing and implementing culturally responsive curriculum and instruction.
- Providing professional development for educators and school leaders in literacy instruction and the use of data to identify and support struggling pupils.
- Providing professional development for educators and school leaders regarding implementation English Language Arts/English Language Development (ELA/ELD) 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:
- Family literacy plans that identify literacy and biliteracy goals, benchmarks, and roles for all family members.
- 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.
- 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.
- Public library family literacy partnerships, including, but not limited to, digital tools to support whole family literacy.
Allocations and Apportionments
LCRS Funding Profile - Program Description and Funding
LCRS Funding Results - Entitlements, Apportionments, and Letters
Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists Educator Training Competitive Grant
The CDE, in consultation with the Commission and subject to the approval of the executive director of the SBE, will award the sum of $25 million for the Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists Educator Training (LCRSET) grant to a County Office of Education (COE), or consortium of COEs, with demonstrated success in improving literacy, especially among underperforming pupil subgroups. Additionally, priority will be given to those COEs that are partnering with institutions of higher education (IHEs) with demonstrated success in providing statewide professional development for expert literacy practice. The goals of this grant will be to develop and provide training for educators to become literacy coaches and reading and literacy specialists, provide support for the LEAs that receive the allocation in Assembly Bill 181, Section 137 (Chapter 52, Statutes of 2022), and to provide support in meeting the SSPI’s goal of all California students reading by third grade by 2026.
Professional learning opportunities under this grant may include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
- Developing and implementing school literacy plans, including identifying metrics to measure progress toward goals and actions.
- Developing the knowledge and skills necessary, including literacy knowledge and leadership skills, to become literacy coaches.
- Attaining the required specialist credential and/or added authorization to become a reading specialist; attain, if qualified, their bilingual authorization; and participate in PL aligned to the Commission’s literacy standards and Teaching Performance Expectations.
- Developing knowledge and skills in literacy instruction, including implementation of the English Language Arts/English Language Development (ELA/ELD) Framework, the development and implementation of culturally responsive curriculum and instruction, and the use of data to identify and support effective instruction and struggling students and diverse learners, including early learners, English Learner (EL) students, pupils with disabilities, and pupils with dyslexia.
- Developing knowledge and skills for appropriate identification and use of screening instruments, assessment strategies, and evidence-based literacy instruction, including biliteracy instruction, for diverse learners.
- Implementing intensive intervention strategies for pupils struggling with literacy, including tutoring and small group strategies, and strategies for target pupil groups based on data.
- Developing and implementing family literacy plans that identify literacy and biliteracy goals, benchmarks, activities, and roles for all family members, as well as promote the availability of the State Seal of Biliteracy.
Eligibility and Funding
A Request for Applications (RFA) is available on the LCRS RFA web page. The RFA is due May 26, 2023, by 4:00 p.m. *Timeline is subject to change. Find more information on the LCRS Funding Profile.
Grant Timeline
The estimated timeline for the selection process is below. This timeline is subject to change.
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| RFA Release | Week of April 3, 2023 |
| Technical Assistance Webinar for Applicants
|
April 10, 2023, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. |
| Applications Due | May 26, 2023, by 4 p.m. |
| Intent to Award Posted | Week of July 10, 2023 |
| Appeals Due | Week of July 17, 2023 |
| Final Awards Posted | Week of July 31, 2023 |
| Program Start Date | August 2023 |
Other Information
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Frequently Asked Questions regarding LCRS.
Resources
Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists Technical Assistance Webinar
This webinar was held on December 5, 2022, and provided an overview of the legislation, allowed expenditures, and reporting requirements.
LCRS Expenditure and Data Reporting Template (DOCX)
This is a template for expenditure and data reporting. More information on how to submit this report will be forthcoming.
Related Content
Assembly Bill 181, Section 137 (Chapter 52, Statutes of 2022)
