Literacy Programs

Montana Literacy Grant

The Office of Public Instruction is excited to be among 23 states awarded the Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant, a highly competitive grant designed to foster a robust literacy program. This grant aims to enhance literacy skills—including pre-literacy, reading, and writing—for children from birth through grade 12, with a focus on supporting disadvantaged children, including those living in poverty, English learners, and children with disabilities. To improve literacy outcomes, the initiative will provide professional development in the science of reading and in implementation science to help schools sustain effective literacy instruction.

Project Goals

  1. Identify and support districts serving the highest percentages of disadvantaged students, building their capacity to accelerate literacy outcomes.
  2. Increase the number of disadvantaged students taught by skilled educators trained to deliver and sustain research-based reading instruction.
  3. Strengthen both State and local educational systems to provide and implement high-quality, evidence-based literacy instruction.

MT Reads Community of Practice

New Are you interested in seeing what our grant districts are learning? Check out our Community of Practice on Oral Language.

Montana Reads logo

Montana's Awarded Application

Grant staff

Rachel Gott

Rachel Gott – MT Reads Literacy Grants Supervisor and Project Director

Rachel Gott will serve as the MT Reads Literacy Grant Director. Rachel grew up in Montana and received a B.A. in Elementary Education from Montana State University Billings. After teaching in several areas across the United States and the world, Rachel went back to school for a master's degree in curriculum and instruction and a Ph.D. in literacy studies with an emphasis in dyslexia studies. She worked for the Colorado Department of Education for five years running the Early Literacy Grant before moving home to Montana to help support schools with the implementation of the MCLP and MCLSDP grants. In 2021, Rachel moved to the MCLSDP Grant Director position and brings her expertise, leadership experience, and connections with the field to this role.

Katy Pellett

Katy Pellett – MT Reads Literacy Grant Specialist

Katy Pellett serves as one of the MT Reads Grant Specialists. Katy was born and raised in Montana, is now raising her own family here, and is a passionate advocate for literacy. Her academic journey, from an English degree to a minor in Native American Studies and a master's degree in English teaching, reflects her commitment and expertise. Her teaching experiences at Big Sky and Seeley-Swan High Schools deepened her resolve. Now, at OPI, she brings her education, classroom and parent perspective, love for Montana, and respect for the traditional guardians of this land to the Montana Reads initiative.

Raina Wedeward

Raina Wedeward – MT Reads Literacy Grant Specialist

Raina Wedeward serves as one of the MT Reads Grant Specialists. Raina grew up in Wisconsin and received her EC-MC teaching degree from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. She moved to Montana to teach at Roberts School, where she learned about the Science of Reading and attended several Big Sky Literacy Summits, witnessing the power of these evidence-based practices in her own classroom. After teaching in Colorado for a time, she returned to her chosen home in Montana, determined to be a friendly, knowledgeable resource helping schools find success in their Montana Reads Grant experience.

Contact information

  • MT Reads Literacy Grant Specialist: Katy Pellett, 406-438-7033
  • MT Reads Literacy Grant Specialist: Raina Wedeward, Contact number: TBD

For questions, please contact Rachel Gott, 406-465-4218.

  • Alberton
  • Anaconda
  • Arlee
  • Arrowhead
  • Ashland
  • Browning
  • Butte
  • Cut Bank
  • Darby
  • Dodson
  • Dutton-Brady
  • East Glacier Park
  • Ekalaka
  • Evergreen
  • Fromberg
  • Frontier
  • Geraldine
  • Great Falls
  • Hardin
  • Lavina
  • Libby
  • Lincoln
  • Lockwood
  • Lodge Grass
  • MT School for the Deaf & Blind
  • Noxon
  • Polson
  • Roy
  • St. Regis
  • Superior
  • Thompson Falls
  • Trego
  • Troy
  • Valier
  • Victor
  • Whitehall
  • Woodman
Map of Montana Reads grantee schools in Montana, showing labeled locations across the state including Alberton, Anaconda, Arlee, Arrowhead, Ashland, Browning, Butte, Cut Bank, Darby, Dodson, Dutton-Brady, East Glacier Park, Ekalaka, Evergreen, Fromberg, Frontier, Geraldine, Great Falls, Hardin, Lavina, Libby, Lincoln, Lockwood, Lodge Grass, MT School for the Deaf and Blind, Noxon, Polson, Roy, St. Regis, Superior, Thompson Falls, Trego, Troy, Valier, Victor, Whitehall, and Woodman.
MT Reads Implementation Timeline

Grant applications were due for eligible districts on March 14, 2025.

MT Reads Grant Application

Grant application resource page – training videos, application writing packet, FAQs, and more

Application support

Intent to apply

Eligible districts: Please use this form to help us prepare for reviewing applications for the MT Reads Grant.

Additional resources

These districts were deemed eligible to apply for the Montana Reads Grant in spring of 2025.

  • Alberton K-12 Schools
  • Anaconda
  • Arlee Public Schools
  • Arrowhead School
  • Ashland Elementary
  • Augusta Public Schools
  • Belfry
  • Billings Public Schools
    • Bench School
    • Billings Senior High School
    • Broadwater School
    • Lewis & Clark Middle School
    • McKinley School
    • Medicine Crow Middle School
    • Miles Avenue School
    • Newman School
    • Orchard School
    • Ponderosa School
    • Riverside Middle School
    • Washington School
  • Box Elder Public Schools
  • Brockton Public Schools
  • Browning Public Schools
  • Butte Public Schools
  • Chinook Public Schools
  • Cut Bank Public Schools
  • Darby K-12 Schools
  • Denton Public Schools
  • DeSmet Elementary
  • Dixon Public Schools
  • Dodson K-12
  • Dutton/Brady K-12 Schools
  • East Glacier Park Elementary
  • Ekalaka Public Schools
  • Evergreen Elementary
  • Frazer Public Schools
  • Fromberg K-12
  • Frontier Elementary
  • Geraldine
  • Great Falls Public Schools
    • Chief Joseph School
    • East Middle School
    • Giant Springs Elementary
    • Great Falls High School
    • Lewis & Clark School
    • Lincoln School
    • Morningside School
    • Mountain View School
    • Sunnyside School
    • Valley View School
    • West Elementary
  • Hardin Public Schools
  • Harlem Public Schools
  • Harlowton Public Schools
  • Havre Public Schools
  • Hays-Lodge Pole K-12
  • Heart Butte K-12 Schools
  • Hot Springs K-12
  • Judith Gap Public Schools
  • Lame Deer Public Schools
  • Lavina K-12 Schools
  • Libby K-12 Schools
  • Lima K-12 Schools
  • Lincoln K-12 Public Schools
  • Lockwood Public Schools
  • Lodge Grass Public Schools
  • Malta K-12 Schools
  • Marion Elementary
  • Melstone Public Schools
  • Montana School for Deaf and Blind
  • Nashua K-12 Schools
  • North Star Public Schools
  • Noxon Public Schools
  • Opheim K-12 Schools
  • Polson Public Schools
  • Poplar Public Schools
  • Pryor
  • Rocky Boy Public Schools
  • Ronan Public Schools
  • Rosebud Public Schools
  • Roundup Public Schools
  • Roy K-12
  • Saco Public Schools
  • Seeley Lake Elementary
  • Shelby Public Schools
  • Smith Valley Elementary
  • St Regis K-12 Schools
  • St. Ignatius K-12 Schools
  • Sun River Valley Public Schools
  • Superior K-12 Schools
  • Terry K-12 Schools
  • Thompson Falls Public Schools
  • Trout Creek Elementary
  • Troy Public Schools
  • Valier Public Schools
  • Vaughn
  • Victor K-12 Schools
  • Whitehall Public Schools
  • Whitewater K-12 Schools
  • Wibaux K-12 Schools
  • Wolf Point Public Schools
  • Woodman Elementary
  • Wyola Elementary
  • Yellowstone Academy

These districts are eligible, but must find an eligible middle or high school to apply with:

  • Zurich Elementary
  • Kircher
  • King Colony
  • Wolf Creek Elementary
  • Auchard Creek Elementary
  • Trego Elementary
  • Morin Elementary
  • Gildford Colony Elementary
  • Ayers Elementary
Early Literacy Resources