Connecticut has been awarded a five-year, $10 million federal grant to significantly enhance early literacy support for kindergarten through third-grade students experiencing reading difficulties. The competitive Education Innovation and Research grant, provided by the U.S. Department of Education, will expand targeted reading interventions across the state.
The initiative will be spearheaded by the Connecticut State Department of Education’s (CSDE) Center for Literacy Research and Reading Success, in collaboration with the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education, HILL for Literacy, Fordham University, and local school districts. This partnership aims to strengthen reading outcomes and integrate positive behavioral supports into instruction.
The grant will facilitate the expansion of small-group reading intervention to a statewide network of 75 elementary schools. This includes providing instructional materials, professional learning opportunities, ongoing coaching for educators, and tools to monitor student progress. A key focus will also be examining the impact of incorporating evidence-aligned positive behavioral interventions to increase student engagement and maximize learning time.
Governor Ned Lamont emphasized the importance of the investment, saying, “Strong reading skills are critical to a student’s success in school and throughout their lives. This investment will provide additional support to young students who are struggling to read and give our educators more tools to meet their needs.” Commissioner Charlene M. Russell-Tucker added, “This funding will allow us to reach more students and educators with the targeted supports and resources needed to advance early literacy.”
This new funding complements Connecticut's ongoing comprehensive literacy strategy, which includes over $24 million invested in K-3 literacy assessments and materials, $15 million for professional learning, and $2 million for a new literacy coaching program. The grant will further expand the state’s literacy coaching efforts and provide intensive, small-group reading intervention.
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal highlighted the broader impact, saying, “This critical $10 million grant will help more Connecticut children develop a lifelong love of reading.” Congressmen John B. Larson and Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro and Jahana Hayes also expressed their support, noting the federal investment's role in strengthening schools and ensuring students have the tools to succeed.
The program will begin as a pilot with a limited number of schools in its first year, with additional schools phased in over the five-year grant period.