(a) Grants authorized

From the amounts reserved by the Secretary under section 6621(2) of this title and not reserved under subsection (b), the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to State educational agencies to enable the State educational agencies to—

(1) provide subgrants to eligible entities serving a diversity of geographic areas, giving priority to entities serving greater numbers or percentages of children from low-income families; and

(2) develop or enhance comprehensive literacy instruction plans that ensure high-quality instruction and effective strategies in reading and writing for children from early childhood education through grade 12, including English learners and children with disabilities.

(b) Reservation

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From the amounts reserved to carry out this subpart for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve—

(1) not more than a total of 5 percent for national activities, including a national evaluation, technical assistance and training, data collection, and reporting;

(2) one half of 1 percent for the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a program described in this subpart at schools operated or funded by the Bureau of Indian Education; and

(3) one half of 1 percent for the outlying areas to carry out a program under this subpart.

(c) Duration of grants

A grant awarded under this subpart shall be for a period of not more than 5 years total. Such grant may be renewed for an additional 2-year period upon the termination of the initial period of the grant if the grant recipient demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Secretary that—

(1) the State has made adequate progress; and

(2) renewing the grant for an additional 2-year period is necessary to carry out the objectives of the grant described in subsection (d).

(d) State applications

(1) In general

A State educational agency desiring a grant under this subpart shall submit an application to the Secretary, at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require. The State educational agency shall collaborate with the State agency responsible for administering early childhood education programs and the State agency responsible for administering child care programs in the State in writing and implementing the early childhood education portion of the grant application under this subsection.

(2) Contents

An application described in paragraph (1) shall include, at a minimum, the following:

(A) A needs assessment that analyzes literacy needs across the State and in high-need schools and local educational agencies that serve high-need schools, including identifying the most significant gaps in literacy proficiency and inequities in student access to effective teachers of literacy, considering each of the subgroups of students, as defined in section 6311(c)(2) of this title.

(B) A description of how the State educational agency, in collaboration with the State literacy team, if applicable, will develop a State comprehensive literacy instruction plan or will revise and update an already existing State comprehensive literacy instruction plan.

(C) An implementation plan that includes a description of how the State educational agency will carry out the State activities described in subsection (f).

(D) An assurance that the State educational agency will use implementation grant funds described in subsection (f)(1) for comprehensive literacy instruction programs as follows:

(i) Not less than 15 percent of such grant funds shall be used for State and local programs and activities pertaining to children from birth through kindergarten entry.

(ii) Not less than 40 percent of such grant funds shall be used for State and local programs and activities, allocated equitably among the grades of kindergarten through grade 5.

(iii) Not less than 40 percent of such grant funds shall be used for State and local programs and activities, allocated equitably among grades 6 through 12.

(E) An assurance that the State educational agency will give priority in awarding a subgrant under section 6643 of this title to an eligible entity that—

(i) serves children from birth through age 5 who are from families with income levels at or below 200 percent of the Federal poverty line; or

(ii) is a local educational agency serving a high number or percentage of high-need schools.

(e) Priority

In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to State educational agencies that will use the grant funds for evidence-based activities, defined for the purpose of this subsection as activities meeting the requirements of section 7801(21)(A)(i) of this title.

(f) State activities

(1) In general

A State educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall use not less than 95 percent of such grant funds to award subgrants to eligible entities, based on their needs assessment and a competitive application process.

(2) Reservation

A State educational agency receiving a grant under this section may reserve not more than 5 percent for activities identified through the needs assessment and comprehensive literacy plan described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (d)(2), including the following activities:

(A) Providing technical assistance, or engaging qualified providers to provide technical assistance, to eligible entities to enable the eligible entities to design and implement literacy programs.

(B) Coordinating with institutions of higher education in the State to provide recommendations to strengthen and enhance pre-service courses for students preparing to teach children from birth through grade 12 in explicit, systematic, and intensive instruction in evidence-based literacy methods.

(C) Reviewing and updating, in collaboration with teachers and institutions of higher education, State licensure or certification standards in the area of literacy instruction in early education through grade 12.

(D) Making publicly available, including on the State educational agency’s website, information on promising instructional practices to improve child literacy achievement.

(E) Administering and monitoring the implementation of subgrants by eligible entities.

(3) Additional uses

After carrying out the activities described in paragraphs (1) and (2), a State educational agency may use any remaining amount to carry out 1 or more of the following activities:

(A) Developing literacy coach training programs and training literacy coaches.

(B) Administration and evaluation of activities carried out under this subpart.