Superintendent Arntzen Announces $50 Million Literacy Grant for Montana

• Brian O'Leary
• September 09 2024

HELENA – Superintendent Arntzen is excited to announce that the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) was awarded $49,998,977 over the next five years for the competitive Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) Grant. Montana is one of 23 states that received the CLSD grant to enhance literacy programs and introduce innovative strategies to support Montana learners. The CLSD grants provide evidence-based literacy resources, professional development, and an emphasis on teacher leadership and mentorship opportunities. The program will foster communities of practice by establishing a Literacy Leadership Network and ensure long-term sustainability through advanced implementation sciences professional learning.

“Increasing reading and writing proficiency reflects Montana’s constitutional promise of developing our children’s full educational potential,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “The comprehensive literacy grant aligns our new state teaching and learning reading standards, accreditation rules, and the innovative MAST testing model. The subgrants to districts will help increase teacher confidence which builds upon our students’ academic success.”

The Montana CLSD Project plan includes:

• Establishing a high-impact team at awarded schools to deliver technical assistance, fiscal monitoring, decision making, and facilitate professional learning of subgrantees
• Building the capacity of district-level literacy leaders in evidence-based literacy practices, capacity building for teacher leaders, and implementation sciences 
• Convening district-level literacy leaders regularly in a community of practice 
• Utilizing the Literacy Leadership Network’s professional learning to create an evidence-based State Literacy Plan and district-level literacy plans
• Collaborating with Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) to provide professional learning on evidence-based practices to both preservice and in-service educators 
• Reviewing Montana IHEs curriculum in literacy and general education courses
• Partnering with Montana IHEs for mentorship opportunities and collaboration

During the first year of the grant, OPI will approve eligible districts as subgrantees. These districts will be notified by phone and mail no later than December 2024.