1.  The Department shall, to the extent money is available, award grants of money to school districts, sponsors of charter schools and nonprofit organizations to support early childhood literacy and readiness programs. Each program supported by a grant awarded pursuant to this section must:

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

(a) Serve children who are less than 6 years of age;

(b) Be evidence-based;

(c) Provide for appropriate individualized accommodations and supports for children with disabilities; and

(d) Include a plan of reporting and accountability for the performance of the program.

2.  A school district, sponsor of a charter school or nonprofit organization that wishes to receive a grant pursuant to this section must submit an application to the Department. The Department may approve such an application if the Department determines that the application:

(a) Includes an implementation plan which is financially sound; and

(b) Proposes to use all money available from the grant within 2 years or such shorter period of time as the Department determines appropriate.

3.  The Department shall prioritize the award of grants pursuant to this section to a school district, sponsor of a charter school or nonprofit organization to support an early childhood literacy and readiness program that:

(a) Receives money from a private source;

(b) Receives money from a federal grant;

(c) Has demonstrated sustained success in improving the literacy and readiness for elementary school of children less than 6 years of age; or

(d) Provides services to geographical areas with a higher proportion of children entering kindergarten who have demonstrated a deficit across early learning domains during the immediately preceding 2 years.