Literacy Zone Initiative (New York)

Applications are due October 15, 2010. Applications are available at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/funding/2011-13litzone/app.pdf.

Literacy Zones is a reform initiative developed by the New York State Board of Regents and the State Education Department to close the achievement gap in urban and rural communities of concentrated poverty and high concentrations of families and individuals with limited literacy or English language proficiency. Literacy Zones are intended to provide a systemic focus on meeting the literacy needs of communities, from birth through adult. Mandatory Requirements: (1) Each applicant must geographically define the Literacy Zone it proposes to serve and must use funds to provide effective adult education in the Literacy Zone. The geographic scope of a Literacy Zone is defined as a neighborhood, zip code, school district, or community; not a county, borough, region, or city. While a Literacy Zone may encompass more than one zip code, the intent is to mobilize services in small areas of concentrated poverty and/or concentrations of limited English language proficiency. Where services extend over more than one zip code, the zip codes should be adjacent. Applicants must justify poverty, literacy and English language proficiency need, and family and community needs in the proposed Literacy Zone using such factors as census data, public assistance and food stamp eligibility, community health data, school lunch eligibility, planning data, and data that identifies gaps in accessing benefits, services and supports such as attainment of the Earned Income Tax Credits, health insurance, and food stamps; (2) Applicants must include public assistance recipients in the population served; (3) SED is committed to raising performance in underperforming schools. Applicants may apply for a Literacy Zone if there is no School Under Registration Review (SURR) or School In Need of Improvement (SINI) located in the Literacy Zone. However, if a SURR/SINI is located within the Literacy Zone, an applicant must include the SURR/SINI(s) as part of the coordinated plan for raising literacy and English language proficiency, P-16 through adult in order to be eligible to apply for these funds. The most current list of schools is available at: http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/nyc/APA/SURR/SURR_home.html; (4) Applicants must also establish one or more Family Welcome Center(s) in the Literacy Zone that provides access to a variety of coordinated services and benefits, which support students and their families, and open pathways out of poverty; (5) Every Literacy Zone must have a guiding coalition of stakeholders that includes government, education and community leaders with a clear commitment to developing the Literacy Zone over the next two years. Applicants must detail the role of the guiding coalition in the planning and implementation of the Literacy Zone, provide letters of commitment from all stakeholders, and provide evidence of strategic planning. These letters should provide detailed evidence of their role in supporting Literacy Zones; (6) Applicants must also coordinate with other types of organizations in the Literacy Zone such as those operating in the fields of education, health care, workforce development, economic development, family support, and other social services; and (7) Applicants must provide pathways out of poverty for individuals and families living in the Literacy Zone. Pathways out of poverty should be tailored to the needs of individuals and families in the proposed Literacy Zone. Applicants are not required to provide those pathways that do not meet the particular needs in the proposed Literacy Zone. The application should address all ten pathways and clearly relate pathways that are being offered to the needs of the Literacy Zone and clearly justify not including specific pathways. Funds can be used for programs of instruction in adult basic education, English Language Learning (ELL) for speakers of other languages and adult secondary education (preparation for the General Educational Development (GED) test).

History of Funds:

None is available.

Average Award:

Varies

Department: Grants Management

Street: 89 Washington Ave, Room 674 EBA

City: Albany

Zip: 12234

Email: LITZONE@mail.nysed.gov