An ALA District Dispatch post by Kevin Maher yesterday, shared an important clarification from the Department of Education regarding the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program.

The notice in the Federal Register shared that 50 percent of all grant funds, more than $13 million, are reserved for use by school libraries serving high need LEAs. Priority will be given to programs that include book distribution and literacy activities with clear strategies for measuring success  Proposals must be submitted by May 9, 2016 for grants that will be awarded in July.

Here’s the text from the Federal Register:

We are clarifying that, in accordance with the Senate report that accompanied the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (S. Rep. No. 114-74, at 170 (2015)) and the prior notices inviting applications for the IAL program, the Secretary reserves the right to fund a sufficient number of high-quality literacy and book distribution projects to ensure that no less than 50 percent of IAL funds go to applications from LEAs (on behalf of school libraries) for high-quality school library projects that increase access to a wide range of literacy resources (either print or electronic) and provide learning opportunities for all students.Show citation box

Program Authority: Sections 5411-5413 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001; title III of Division H of Public Law 114-113, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016