COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, alongside Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) Director Stephen D. Dackin, announced today that the state has been awarded a $60 million Comprehensive Literacy State Development grant from the U.S. Department of Education. This significant funding aims to bolster literacy instruction across Ohio, equipping teachers to enhance students’ reading and writing skills.
The grant aligns with Governor DeWine’s ReadOhio initiative, which promotes statewide efforts to improve literacy achievement. Central to this initiative is the implementation of the Science of Reading, a research-backed method recognized as the most effective approach for teaching children to read.
“As all of our schools in Ohio become fully aligned with the Science of Reading, it is critical that our teachers have the right training and resources to properly teach their students how to read using this groundbreaking method,” Governor DeWine stated. “This funding will further advance our efforts to make Ohio a model state, supporting teachers with the necessary tools to enhance literacy achievement and providing our students with essential skills for success.”
With this grant, elementary, middle, and high schools, along with district preschools and early childhood education programs, will have the opportunity to apply for designation as comprehensive literacy implementation sites. Selected sites will utilize the funding to enhance literacy practices, which may include coaching for educators, training on high-quality instructional materials, and partnerships with local libraries or higher education institutions to promote literacy in families.
“By establishing more schools as comprehensive literacy implementation sites and providing additional support to our teachers, we can better equip educators to guide students in developing critical literacy skills,” Director Dackin emphasized. “This program will also help identify where further supports are needed to strengthen learning connections.”
The DEW plans to issue a request for applications in early 2025 to competitively select the implementation sites. Subgrants will be available for four age groups, from birth to grade 12, with a focus on supporting children from low-income backgrounds, English language learners, and children with disabilities.
Ohio is one of 23 states awarded grants in this funding cycle and received the second-highest allocation nationally. Awards for selected subgrantees are expected to be announced in late spring 2025, paving the way for a stronger literacy framework across the state.
