Brian Maher, Nebraska’s education commissioner, reads a book to a group of mostly 3-year-olds Monday as he and others launched a statewide project to boost reading skills of pre-kindergarteners. The kickoff was at an Educare of Omaha at Indian Hill, 3110 W St., on Oct. 30, 2023. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
State Education Commissioner Brian Maher, in announcing the grant Friday at a State Board of Education meeting in Nebraska City, said it is the largest competitive grant the department has ever received. It is part of the Comprehensive Literacy State Development grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Nebraska is one of 23 recipients across the country.
Maher said he and the department are excited about the “great opportunity” but said it also comes with “great responsibility.”
“We cannot just spend the next five years spending $55 million without making sure that there are positive outcomes for students,” Maher said.
The grant program is designed to support state agencies in implementing comprehensive, statewide literacy efforts from birth through grade 12. There is an emphasis on disadvantaged students — those living in poverty, English learners and students with disabilities.
“Literacy skills” include pre-literacy, reading and writing. Award recipients must use funds to support practices, strategies and interventions in response to identified reading gaps. These must be evidence-based and highly effective, such as developing phonemic awareness, decoding words and analyzing word parts, according to the state department.
The department said the grant will focus on a number of “proven strategies,” such as:
- Providing professional development.
- Improving family literacy.
- Providing high quality instructional materials.
- Utilizing tutoring and extended learning outside of school hours.
- Working toward reducing chronic absenteeism.
