The Hawai‘i State Department of Education (HIDOE) has been awarded a five-year, $49.8 million federal Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) grant, of which $7.34 million has been reserved for the birth through kindergarten entry (B-KE) Early Literacy Project. The CLSD discretionary grant provides funds to create a comprehensive literacy program to advance literacy skills through the use of evidence-based practices, activities and interventions, including pre-literacy skills, reading, and writing for children from birth through grade 12, with an emphasis on disadvantaged children, including children living in poverty, English learners, and children with disabilities.
Background
Hawai‘i P-20 has been contracted by HIDOE to facilitate the support and implementation of the birth through kindergarten entry component of the CLSD program. The purpose of the CLSD Early Literacy Project (EL Project) is to supplement current early literacy efforts with innovative strategies to: (1) advance the foundational language and literacy skills in our youngest keiki; and (2) engage families to support their children’s development and learning, targeting the most vulnerable and underrepresented communities. Hawaii P-20 will award competitive subgrants to develop and implement evidence-based comprehensive literacy plans.
The current priority for the early care and education program/service providers is to navigate and work through the current and upcoming federal and state COVID-19 recovery package as well as seek CDC guidelines with assistance from the Hawaii State Department of Human Services to determine how and when to re-open their programs to support their returning workforce and parents, who depend on child care to work or return to work. The CLSD EL Project is intended to provide additional assistance for early childhood programs to enhance their curricula, specifically in the early language and literacy domains of learning and development. The subawards would provide the supplemental funds for literacy-focused supplies and materials, teacher training and coaching, and family literacy activities.
Eligible Subgrant Applicants
The CLSD Early Literacy Project application is available to public and private early care and education program and service providers, and community organizations who work with families with young children, or consortiums of program and service providers. It is highly encouraged that the interested applicants partner with HIDOE complex areas and the charter schools within their community to align their literacy efforts.
RFA Informational Webinar
Presentation Slides from July 1 & 2
Proposed Timeline
The timeline below with key dates represents Hawai‘i P-20’s best estimate of the schedule that will be followed. Any of the dates listed below may be changed at any time at the sole discretion of Hawai‘i P-20. The revised dates of the timeline are shown in bold format.
Application Due August 3, 2020 to Hawai‘i P-20, no later than 4:00 p.m. HST
| Date | Event |
| April 6, 2020 | Application Available and Notified |
| April 14 and 15, 2020 | Technical Assistance Webinar |
| July 1 & 2, 2020 | RFA Informational Webinar |
| August 3, 2020 | Application Due to Hawai‘i P-20, no later than 4:00 p.m. HST |
| August 4–28, 2020 | Subgrant Review and Award Process |
| August 31–September 30, 2020 | Subgrant Selection and Award Notification |
| October 1, 2020 | Project Start Date |
| October 1 to November 30, 2020 | Scheduled Individual Technical Assistance Sessions to Finalize Implementation Plans |
| October 24, 2020 | Subgrant Kick-Off Convening |
Applications must be received by Hawai‘i P-20 no later than 4:00 p.m. HST on August 3, 2020.
For assistance or additional information regarding the CLSD program or application, please contact: Kim Guieb. Email kimgk@hawaii.edu or phone: (808) 956-2560.
Resources:
- HIDOE CLSD Website
- 2019-2024 Early Childhood State Plan
- 2030 HIDOE Promise Plan
- Implementation Science 3.2 – Initiative Inventory
- Implementation Science 3.3 – Root Cause
- Implementation Science 3.4 – Stakeholder Engagement Guidance
- An Integrated Stage-Based Framework for Implementation of Early Childhood Programs & Systems, May 2015