(1) As part of the Early Literacy Success Initiative, the Department of Education shall establish and administer the Early Literacy Success School Grant program. (2) Under the program, the department shall award annual grants to school districts and to public charter schools that are elementary schools. The grants must be used to implement the purposes of the Early Literacy Success Initiative, as identified in ORS 327.827, by funding the following: (a) The provision of professional development and coaching in research-aligned literacy strategies to improve early literacy instruction. Professional development and coaching: (A) Must be provided to teachers and administrators in early elementary grades; and (B) May be provided to instructional assistants in early elementary grades and to any other staff identified by the State Board of Education by rule. (b) The provision of extended learning programs that use research-aligned literacy strategies and that are made available to students in early elementary grades by licensed teachers or by qualified tutors. The extended learning programs may include: (A) Home-based summer reading activities for students who need additional support and enrichment; and (B) An intensive summer school program for students who need the most additional support and who receive at least 60 hours of direct literacy instruction by an instructional assistant or a licensed teacher trained in research-aligned literacy strategies. (c) The provision of high-dosage tutoring to students in early elementary grades that integrates reading and writing and that is delivered by a qualified tutor using developmentally appropriate practices. (d) The adoption and implementation of curricula that uses research-aligned literacy strategies and that is applicable starting in any grade from prekindergarten through grade five. Funding under this paragraph may be used to: (A) Purchase curricula and materials that are culturally relevant; or (B) Provide professional development and time for teachers, administrators and instructional assistants in early elementary grades, and any other staff identified by the State Board of Education by rule, to attend training related to the curricula. (e) The employment of literacy specialists, coaches or interventionists. (3) A grant received under ORS 327.833 may be used only for purposes identified in subsection (2) of this section for the benefit of children and students in prekindergarten through grade three. (4) The State Board of Education may adopt any rules necessary for the administration of grants under ORS 327.829 to 327.837. Rules shall, to the greatest extent practicable, prioritize schools with the lowest rates of proficiency in literacy and assist in the operational alignment of grant programs and improvement strategies administered by the Department of Education, including: (a) Grants distributed from the Student Investment Account, as provided by ORS 327.175 to 327.208; (b) Apportionments made under the High School Graduation and College and Career Readiness Act, as provided by ORS 327.853 to 327.895; and (c) District continuous improvement plans, as described in ORS 329.095. Note: See note under 327.825.
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