Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) Program Assistance Listing CFDA Number 84.215G | ED GRANTS 071221 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for ED GRANTS 071221 001

The Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) Program (Assistance Listing/CFDA 84.215G) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), focused on improving literacy outcomes for children and students from birth through 12th grade. The program is aimed specifically at high-need local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools, with an emphasis on serving low-income communities. In practical terms, the Department is looking to fund high-quality, evidence-informed efforts that measurably strengthen reading and language development across the early childhood-to-adolescence pipeline, not just isolated one-time activities.

A central theme of the opportunity is encouraging innovative, community-relevant literacy strategies. The notice highlights three example approaches the Department intends to promote. First, it explicitly calls out the development and enhancement of effective school library programs. This can include strengthening the library as an instructional hub, providing professional development for school librarians, and purchasing books and current, high-quality materials for high-need schools. Second, it points to early literacy services that reach families early and often, including pediatric literacy models in which medical providers incorporate language-and-literacy promotion into well-child visits. In that model, providers trained in research-based practices give developmentally appropriate books and guidance to parents, encouraging reading aloud starting in infancy. Third, it recognizes the value of consistent access to books by supporting programs that provide high-quality books on a regular basis to children and adolescents in low-income communities, with the goal of increasing reading motivation, reading frequency, and ultimately reading performance.

The funding context also signals a strong preference for school library-focused proposals. The opportunity references explanatory language tied to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 indicating an expectation that no less than 50 percent of IAL funds be reserved for grants that develop and enhance effective school library programs (including librarian professional development and updated materials for high-need schools). While the notice notes that this type of report language is not the same as a binding legal requirement, it also explains that in typical IAL competitions the volume of strong library-related applications has generally enabled the Department to align with that directive. For applicants, the clear takeaway is that school library-centered projects are a prominent and competitive fit for IAL, especially when they are well-designed and clearly tied to literacy outcomes for high-need students.

From an administrative and logistics standpoint, this opportunity was posted under Funding Opportunity Number ED GRANTS 071221 001, with applications made available July 12, 2021. The Department strongly encouraged (but did not require) a Notice of Intent to Apply, due July 22, 2021, submitted by email with the subject line "Intent to Apply" and basic applicant/contact information. The final deadline for transmittal of applications was August 11, 2021, and the deadline for intergovernmental review was September 10, 2021. The Department also offered a pre-application webinar for prospective applicants, with details provided through the OESE IAL program webpage, which is meant to help applicants understand expectations, submission steps, and program-specific considerations.

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with the instruction that applicants must consult the official Federal Register application notice for the precise eligibility rules and any required definitions (such as what counts as a high-need LEA or qualifying partner types). The posting emphasizes that the summary text is only a synopsis and that the controlling source is the Federal Register notice, along with the Department of Education "Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs" (referenced as the February 13, 2019 Federal Register publication). Those official documents are where applicants would find the detailed requirements that matter most for competitiveness and compliance, including mandatory application components, formatting, submission procedures, selection criteria, program priorities, and performance measures.

Finally, the program contact identified for this competition was Simon Earle at the U.S. Department of Education, including a phone number and email address for applicant questions. The listing also notes an expectation of approximately 40 awards, while the award ceiling is not specified in the summary (shown as 0, meaning applicants should rely on the official notice for award size guidance, any funding ranges, and project period details). Overall, IAL is designed to fund scalable, high-impact literacy efforts for underserved communities, with a particularly strong spotlight on strengthening school libraries as a lever for improving student literacy from early grades through high school.

• The Department of Education in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE): Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) Program Assistance Listing CFDA Number 84.215G" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 84.215.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 12, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 11, 2021 Applications Available July 12, 2021. Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply July 22, 2021. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications August 11, 2021. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review September 10, 2021. Notice of Intent to Apply The Department will be able to review grant applications more efficiently if we know the approximate number of applicants that intend to apply. Therefore, we strongly encourage each potential applicant to notify us of their intent to submit an application. To do so, please email the program contact person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT with the subject line #8220Intent to Apply,#8221 and include the applicant#8217s name and a contact person#8217s name and email address. Applicants that do not submit a notice of intent to apply may still apply for funding applicants that do submit a notice of intent to apply are not bound to apply or bound by the information provided. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Simon Earle, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, room 3E254, Washington, DC 20202-6450. Telephone (202) 453-7923. Email Simon.Earle@ed.gov. Pre-Application Webinar Information The Department will hold a pre-application meeting via webinar for prospective applicants. For information about the pre-application webinar, visit the IAL website at https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-discretionary-grants-support-services/well-rounded-education-programs/innovative-approaches-to-literacy/. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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