Funding the Reading Recovery Implementation:
Developing a Plan

Key Questions

1. Do you have a long-range plan for funding that is stable and enables you to serve all eligible students?
2. What funding sources does your district have available? (Federal? State? Local? Foundation? Competitive Grant?)
3. Who are key people in your site who need to be included in the development and implementation of a long-term funding plan? Whose "buy-in" is essential?

Introduction
Funding decisions regarding Reading Recovery and Descubriendo la Lectura are critical to program longevity and serving all eligible children. Reading Recovery and Descubriendo la Lectura are long term investments in children's educational futures, and it is wise to examine costs carefully. An ongoing priority for an implementation plan must be to support Reading Recovery and Descubriendo la Lectura with a funding stream that is stable and long-term. For some sites, 100% funding through local funds would be ideal. For others, a broad-based funding plan may be preferred. Temporary funding sources are best used for one-time or short-term needs such as capitol investment to build or remodel a training facility or investment in materials (i.e. children's books). Dependence on temporary funds, of course, is to be avoided.

A team approach to the development and implementation of a long-term funding plan is preferred. By having many stakeholders across the site involved, support for the plan will be broad-based. Hopefully a synergy, characterized by commitment to the plan, will be generated among the team members. A goal is to have staunch advocates for the funding plan throughout the system. This makes it more likely that in tough economic times or when conflicting priorities emerge, team members will be in strategic positions that influence the decision to continue forward with the long term plan of implementation.

Recommendations for sources of funding are varied. Many schools use federal education funds. The chart below identifies examples of funding sources that have been identified in the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. Most federal funding used for Reading Recovery is authorized by the NCLB Act (you may also hear this law referred to as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, or ESEA). Of note, in the coming months ESEA will be reauthorized. Staying informed about changes in federal funding is important to ensure that current funding for your implementation is stable and/or that potential sources of funding are still available.

Sites also may choose to develop long-term funding plans that utilize different sources along the way to reach long-term, stable funding. The sources may include federal, state, or local funding.

A Few Terms
"Title" and "Part" - Federal legislation is divided into major components called Titles. In each Title there are several Parts. Federal education programs are often referred to by the Title and Part which describes them. 

"Formula Grant" - These funds are allocated to states or their subdivisions in accordance with distribution formulas prescribed by law or administrative regulation, for activities of a continuing nature not confined to a specific project. Formula entitlement grants are awarded to school districts and are not competitive in nature. This often makes them ideal for funding long term projects in that they are not “up for competition” every few years. However, formula grants are not always assured. Legislative priorities can change and an entitlement can be discontinued.

Several types of federal funds are listed in the table below. Considerations for sites in using these funds are included (Use the highlighted Web sites for more in-depth information).

With the new Administration in Washington DC, there have been additional funds allocated to education through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The ARRA lays the foundation for education reform by supporting investments in innovative strategies that are most likely to lead to improved results for students, long-term gains in school and school system capacity, and increased productivity and effectiveness.

The ARRA is providing billions of dollars for the Race to the Top Fund, a competitive grant program designed to encourage and reward states that are creating the conditions for education innovation and reform. States awarded Race to the Top Funds have specific plans for the use of these funds. More information can be found at the state education agency level or at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/index.html.

State Fiscal Stabilization Funds, under ARRA, were awarded to governors to help save jobs and drive education reform. More information can be found at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/statestabilization/factsheet.html.

Title 1 ARRA funds were made available to school districts in 2009. School districts made application for these funds which were available for use in the 2009/2010 school year, and in many cases, continue in availability during the 2010/2011 school year. Beyond FY 11 there is no guarantee that new funds will be available. However, for FY 11, funds might be available to support a site’s implementation of Reading Recovery. The school district person responsible for oversight of ARRA funds should be contacted for more information. Other ARRA funds which a school district may have available include ARRA Title 1, School Improvement and ARRA IDEA-B Formula funds.

The Investing in Innovation Fund (i3), established under section 14007 of the ARRA, provides funding to support local educational agencies and nonprofit organizations in partnership with one or more LEAs or a consortium of schools. The purpose of this program is to provide competitive grants to applicants with a record of improving student achievement and attainment in order to expand the implementation of, and investment in, innovative practices that are demonstrated to have an impact on improving student achievement or student growth, closing achievement gaps, decreasing dropout rates, increasing high school graduation rates, or increasing college enrollment and completion rates.

In August 2010 USDE announced that The Ohio State University (OSU) had been awarded $45.6 million for a Reading Recovery scale-up grant. OSU and 15 other university partners will scale-up Reading Recovery in 1,500 schools in 40 states over the next five years. http://data.ed.gov/grants/investing-in-innovation/applicant/15120.