WASHINGTON, DC – October 4: U.S. President Joe Biden, alongside Vice President Kamala Harris (left) and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona (right), participates in a meeting of the Task Force on Reproductive Healthcare Access in the White House’s State Dining Room. The meeting took place on October 4, 2022, marking 100 days since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which had established a federal right to abortion.
*Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images.*
Sep 16, 2024 Story by: Editor
The U.S. Department of Education is distributing $179 million in grants to support evidence-based programs aimed at accelerating academic achievement, reinforcing the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to improving education nationwide.
This funding includes $149 million in new Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) grants, marking the largest allocation in the program’s history, along with nearly $30 million in Competitive Grants for State Assessments (CGSA).
Impact on Black K-12 Students Nationwide
The Biden-Harris Administration’s investment in academic acceleration is poised to positively affect Black K-12 students across the country. By focusing on literacy development and enhancing state assessment systems, these funds could help address the significant disparities Black students, who have been historically underserved, face in these critical areas.
The $149 million earmarked for the CLSD program could significantly benefit Black students by improving access to high-quality literacy resources. Historically, systemic inequalities have led to lower literacy rates among Black students. With these funds, states and school districts can provide targeted support to bridge the literacy gap, fostering educational equity.
The nearly $30 million allocated for Competitive Grants for State Assessments (CGSA) aims to create more equitable assessment systems. Traditional standardized tests have often failed to accurately reflect the abilities of Black students, who may face additional challenges in these assessments. The new models funded by these grants could offer real-time insights, giving teachers and parents a clearer understanding of each student’s academic needs and helping tailor support accordingly.
Allocation of Grant Funding
Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) Grant – $149 Million
The CLSD grants are designed to promote evidence-based literacy practices, with over $149 million awarded to 23 state educational agencies. These funds will help students meet crucial literacy milestones, such as reading at grade level by third grade, which is a key predictor of future academic success. The grants also aim to ensure that all students, especially those from underserved communities, have access to high-quality literacy instruction and materials.
In addition to supporting K-12 schools, these funds will promote partnerships with local universities to provide targeted literacy interventions and early educational support. The grants will also fund tailored support for schools, districts, and early education programs to implement evidence-based literacy instruction, ensuring long-term academic success for students.
Competitive Grants for State Assessments (CGSA) – $30 Million
The CGSA grants focus on developing and implementing high-quality, innovative assessments. Nearly $30 million has been awarded to 10 state educational agencies to help design assessments that are more instructional, personalized, and aligned with students’ learning processes. These assessments will be tailored to meet the needs of students with disabilities and multilingual learners.
The funds will also help states enhance how assessment data is used, making it more practical for teachers, parents, and students to guide academic progress. Additionally, these grants will help create systems that align with state academic standards and measure higher-order thinking skills, fostering equity and inclusion throughout the assessment process.
Comments from Officials
Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced the grants during the Education Department’s Back to School Bus Tour, alongside Neera Tanden, one of President Biden’s domestic policy advisors.
“Literacy is a critical foundation for every student’s success in school and beyond,” Cardona said. “The new funding announced today will help states, school districts, and communities continue to develop and implement evidence-based literacy interventions,” he added, emphasizing the administration’s goal to “raise the bar for student academic success, giving every student the best opportunities to succeed.” Source: Defender Network
