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2024 Montana Reads 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.

The project’s goals are to:

  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.

Project Implementation

Grant applications are not yet open for the MT Reads Grant

Grant Staff

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 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. In 2021 Rachel moved to the MCLSDP Grant Director position and will bring her expertise, leadership experience, and connections with the field with her to this role. 

  • Coming Soon! - MT Reads Literacy Grant Specialist
  • Coming Soon! - MT Reads Literacy Grant Specialist
Montana's 2024 Application to the US Department of Education
 

Implementation Support

Please join us in our Initial Implementation Webinar to Support District Grant Applications

  • Topic: Montana Reads - Literacy Grant - Informational Webinar
  • Time: Jan 10, 2025 10:00 AM Mountain Time
  • Join Zoom Meeting: https://mt-gov.zoom.us/j/87492917931?pwd=aIeaHvfrAdUvIHr1vPqly2rEJnYGFp.1
  • Meeting ID: 874 9291 7931
  • Password: MTREADS
  • Dial by Telephone
    • +1 646 558 8656
    • Meeting ID: 874 9291 7931

Timelines

grant timeline 2024

Eligible Districts

  • 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

  • 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 MS/HS to apply with:

  • Zurich Elementary

  • Kircher

  • King Colony

  • East Glacier Park Elementary

  • Wolf Creek Elementary

  • Auchard Creek Elementary

  • Trego Elementary

  • Morin Elementary

  • Gildford Colony Elementary

  • Ayers Elementary

 

Subgrant Application Resources

Implementation Support

Please join us in our Initial Implementation Webinar to Support District Grant Applications

  • Topic: Montana Reads - Literacy Grant - Informational Webinar
  • Time: Jan 10, 2025 10:00 AM Mountain Time
  • Join Zoom Meeting: https://mt-gov.zoom.us/j/87492917931?pwd=aIeaHvfrAdUvIHr1vPqly2rEJnYGFp.1
  • Meeting ID: 874 9291 7931
  • Password: MTREADS
  • Dial by Telephone
    • +1 646 558 8656
    • Meeting ID: 874 9291 7931

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.

Project Implementation

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

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

Timelines

  • 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

Subgrant Application Resources

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

Grant Recipients

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

Eligible Districts by County

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)

Module Expired - 10/5/2023 12:00:00 AM

Project Implementation

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

Grant Recipients

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

External Partners

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

Guiding Documents

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)

Subgrant Application Resources