Did the Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy Grant Program Reach Its Goals? An Implementation Report

Boosting literacy among school-age children remains a national priority. Nearly one third of students in the United States have not developed the foundational reading skills needed to succeed academically, with students living in poverty, students with disabilities, and English learners especially at risk. Starting in 2010, Congress invested more than $1 billion for state literacy improvement efforts through the Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy (SRCL) program. SRCL was intended to focus funding on disadvantaged schools, encourage schools to use evidence-based practices, and support schools and teachers in providing comprehensive literacy instruction. This report assesses how well SRCL implementation was aligned with these goals, using information collected from states, districts, and schools in all 11 states awarded three-year grants in 2017.