2019 Montana Comprehensive Literacy State Development Program (MCLSDP)

The purpose of these discretionary grants, is to create a comprehensive literacy program to advance literacy skills – including pre-literacy skills, reading, writing, speaking, and listening – for students from birth through grade 12 with an emphasis on disadvantaged children, including children living in poverty, English learners, and children with disabilities.

The Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA) is now available!

CNA will be open between September 15, 2023 - October 6, 2023

Take the CNA Here

 

Grant applications are closed. 

Grant Staff

Rachel Gott - Literacy Grants Supervisor and Project Director MCLSDP

In July 2021, Rachel Gott was promoted to the project director for Montana's literacy grant.  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 US and the world Rachel went back to school for a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction and a PhD 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.

Montana's 2019 Application to the US Department of Education

External Partners for the MCLSDP

The following external partners were selected through a request for proposal process.  Districts receive consulting support on a monthly basis from these literacy experts.
  • Coach Up! Consulting
  • Custom Educational Consulting
  • Insight Educational Services, Inc.
  • Side-by-Side Consulting
  • STRIVE Consulting
  • Sweeney Educational Consulting
  • The Transformative Reading Teacher Group
  • January 1, 2020: Eligibility List Posted
  • February 10, 2020: Recorded Webinars and Subgrant Application Posted to OPI Website
  • February 19-28, 2020: Subgrant Application Workshops
    • Billings - February 28
    • Glendive - February 26
    • Havre - February 24
    • Helena - February 21
    • Missoula - February 20
    • Kalispell - February 19
  • March 31, 2020: Subgrant Applications Due to the OPI via US Mail
  • April 2020: Rigorous Application Review Process
  • Late May 2020: Subgrant Award Notification
  • Fall 2020: Subgrant Implementation Begins

The application period has closed.  Subgrantees have been notified of their award status.

Eligibility Criteria for MCLSDP Subgrantees

 

One or more Local Education Agencies (LEAs) serving a high percentage of high needs students as identified by 50% or more Free and Reduced Meal status or one or more LEAs with student populations in the top 15% in the state for Free and Reduced Meal status

OR 

Are among the LEAs in the State with the highest percentage of students reading or writing below grade level as indicated by below proficient on statewide assessments (5th and 8th grade Smarter Balanced) or below college and career ready on the ACT (high school) or one or more LEAs with student populations in the top 15% in the state reading or writing below grade level as indicated by below proficient on SBAC or below college and career ready on the ACT.

Subgrant Application Preliminary Information:

In the MCLSDP subgrant application, eligible districts must identify a feeder pattern for children and students PK-Grade 12. Large districts may only include up to two early childhood centers, two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.

All levels must create a literacy line/feeder pattern (the flow of schools that the students take as they progress through their education). The patterns are determined by the location of the student’s residence and that location within the school boundary.

Feeder Pattern Defined: Elementary Schools feed Middle School, which feed High Schools

Independent elementary districts will need to identify strong transitions and commitments with the eligible high school students feed into.

Information on forming consortiums for smaller districts will be addressed in the upcoming webinars.

Application and Resources

The following districts were awarded grants for 2019-2024.

  • Absarokee
  • Anaconda
  • Arrowhead
  • Ashland
  • Bonner
  • Boulder Elementary/Jefferson Co. High School
  • Browning
  • Chester-Joplin-Inverness
  • Clinton
  • East Helena
  • Fair-Mont-Egan
  • Fromberg
  • Frontier
  • Great Falls
  • Helena
  • Huntley Project
  • Laurel
  • Libby
  • Lincoln
  • Livingston
  • Lockwood
  • Montana School for the Deaf and Blind
  • Philipsburg
  • Polson
  • Potomac
  • Roberts
  • Rocky Boy
  • Ronan
  • St. Regis
  • Troy
  • Victor
  • Whitehall

Beaverhead

Lima K-12 Schools

Big Horn

Hardin Public Schools

Lodge Grass Public Schools

Pryor Public Schools

Wyola

Blaine

Chinook Public School

Harlem Public Schools 

Hays-Lodge Pole K-12

Zurich School

 

Broadwater

Townsend Public Schools

Carbon

Belfry K-12 Schools

Fromberg K-12 Schools

Roberts K-12 Schools

 

Carter

Ekalaka Public Schools

Cascade

Great Falls Public Schools

Montana School for the Deaf and Blind

Simms High Schools District

Vaughn Elementary School

 

Choteau

Big Sandy Public Schools

Geraldine Public Schools

Custer

Miles City Public Schools

Deer Lodge

Anaconda Public Schools

 

Fergus

Ayers School

Grass Range Public Schools

King Colony School

Lewistown Public Schools

Winifred K-12 Schools

 

Flathead

Columbia Falls Public Schools

Evergreen Schools

Fair-Mont-Egan

Kalispell Public Schools

 

Glacier

Browning Public Schools

Cut Bank Public Schools

East Glacier Park Elementary

 

Golden Valley

Lavina K-12 Schools

Ryegate K-12 Schools

 

Granite

Philipsburg K-12 Schools

Hill

Box Elder Public Schools

Havre Public Schools

Rocky Boy Public Schools

 

Jefferson

Basin Elementary

Boulder Elementary

Jefferson High School 

Whitehall Public Schools

 

Judith Basin

Geyser Public Schools

Stanford K-12 Schools

 

Lake

Arlee Public Schools

Charlo Public Schools

Polson Public Schools

Ronan Public Schools

St Ignatius K-12 Schools

Two Eagle River School 

Valley View Elementary

 

Lewis & Clark

East Helena K-12 Schools

Helena Public Schools

Lincoln K-12 Schools

 

Liberty

Chester-Joplin-Inverness Public Schools

 

Lincoln

Eureka Public Schools

Fortine School

Libby Public Schools

Trego School

Troy Public Schools

 

Madison

Alder School

Harrison K-12 Schools

 

Meagher

White Sulphur Springs Public Schools

 

Mineral

Alberton K-12 Schools

St Regis K-12 Schools

Superior K-12 Schools

 

Missoula

Bonner Elementary

Clinton Elementary

DeSmet Elementary

Potomac Elementary

Missoula Co Public Schools

 

Musselshell

Roundup Public Schools

Park

Arrowhead Schools

Livingston Public Schools

 

Petroleum

Winnett K-12 Schools

 

Phillips

Dodson K-12

 

Pondera

Conrad Public Schools

Heart Butte K-12 Schools

Valier Public Schools

 

Powell

Avon Elementary

Deer Lodge Elementary

Elliston Elementary

Gold Creek Elementary

Helmville Elementary

Powell Co High School

 

Prairie

Terry K-12 Schools

Ravalli

Darby K-12 Schools

Lone Rock Elementary

Victor K-12 Schools

 

Richland

Fairview Public Schools

Sidney Public Schools

 

Roosevelt

Bainville K-12 Schools

Brockton Public Schools

Culbertson Public Schools

Frontier Elementary

Poplar Public Schools

Wolf Point Public Schools

 

Rosebud

Ashland Elementary

Colstrip Public Schools

Lame Deer Public Schools

Rosebud Public Schools

St. Labre

 

Sanders

Dixon Elementary

Hot Springs K-12

Noxon Public Schools

Plains Public Schools

Thompson Falls Public Schools

Trout Creek Elementary

 

Sheridan

Medicine Lake K-12 Schools

Silver Bow

Butte Public Schools

Stillwater

Absarokee Public Schools

Teton

Dutton/Brady K-12 Schools

Toole

Shelby Public Schools

Treasure

Hysham K-12 Schools

Valley

Frazer Public Schools

Glasgow K-12 Schools

Hinsdale Public Schools

Nashua K-12 Schools

 

Wheatland

Harlowton Public Schools

Wibaux

Wibaux K-12 Schools

Yellowstone

Billings Public Schools

Huntley Project K-12 Schools

Laurel Public Schools

Lockwood K-12

Morin Elementary 

Shepherd Public Schools

Yellowstone Academy Elementary

 


2017-2021 Montana Comprehensive Literacy Project (MCLP)

Montana's 2017 Application to the US Department of Education

This application includes all project descriptions, budget proposal, and narratives.  

The Montana Comprehensive Literacy Project (MCLP) was completed in 2021. 

Year 1 and 2 External Evaluation Report - December 2019

Year 3 External Evaluation Report - November 2020

The following districts were awarded grants for 2017-2021.

Anaconda
Boulder
Browning
Charlo
Clinton
East Helena
Fromberg
Frontier
Great Falls
Hardin
Helena
Libby
Lincoln
Livingston
Lockwood
Potomac
Roberts
Rocky Boy
St. Regis
Sun River
Troy

The following external partners were selected through a request for proposal process.  Districts receive consulting support on a monthly basis from these literacy experts.

  • Coach Up! Consulting
  • Custom Educational Services
  • Education Northwest
  • Side-by-Side
  • Transformative Reading Teacher Group

Montana Comprehensive Literacy Project Abstract 

Montana Comprehensive Literacy Plan (MLP)

The Montana Comprehensive Literacy Plan provides guidance for districts and schools as they plan for comprehensive literacy instruction and assessment. A school's curriculum must  be grounded in the Montana's English Language Arts & Literacy Standards and delivered using evidence-based instructional strategies that meet the needs of all learners. 

Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA)