Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Allocate any and all funding resources before they expire!

The academic year is done. The bell rang on the last day of school and your students ran out the front door. Now, they’re busy enjoying their summer “break.”

But for you, the race against time only intensifies. That is to say, you’re facing looming deadlines to utilize educational funds before they expire.

It’s not easy.

You’re facing the pressing task of allocating budgets wisely to maximize their impact. With grants and funds like ESSER nearing their expiration, it’s crucial to make strategic decisions now that will benefit students long-term.

Not to mention the end of the fiscal year is fast approaching on June 30!

Investing in literacy programs such as Kids Read Now can be a transformative move to bolster reading skills crucial for student success during summer, and all year long during out-of-school time (OST).

Choose your own “Authorization of Appropriations”

Today, securing the right funding at the right time is more important than ever.

The opportunity gap is growing. Reading scores show that less than half our kids are not meeting grade-level benchmarks. Learning loss is rampant. Many state governments continue to slash education funding.

You might be experiencing the effects of these national trends in your district. Now is your last chance to act on funding and grants for this fiscal year!

Approaching the end of ESSER with smart spending

As we approach the end of pandemic-era relief, let’s talk about ESSER awards. Specifically: what stays, what goes, and when.

Shortly after we welcomed students and staff back into schools after the Covid-19 pandemic, the School Superintendents Association (AASA) surveyed 500 district leaders like you about what they’d cut once COVID relief funding ended.

The number one answer? Summer programs.

The 2024-2025 school year is upon us. What do you plan to cut? And more importantly, what do you choose to invest in that will produce lasting results?

As long ago as July 2022, the School Superintendents Association (AASA) sent a letter to the US Department of Education, according to EdWeek.

The group specifically asked the Education Department to provide guidance “as far in advance as possible on whether we can have additional time to liquidate funds, the circumstances under which it will be permissible, and the process for receiving approval.”

Almost 700 superintendents from 47 states signed in agreement — they needed more time to allocate federal funds meaningfully.

Superintendents know best how to maximize the academic impact of the funding and are spending these resources wisely. However, there will be serious repercussions for students when these funds run out, which is why proposals to slash funding for the 2024-25 school year are simply unacceptable and risk deeply undermining the progress students are making academically.

David R. Schuler, AASA Executive Director

Clearly, these high-stakes decisions are difficult.

We’ve got your back.

So far, the US Department of Education has only authorized liquidation extensions for infrastructure projects already underway. Unless you have an extenuating circumstance, you’ll lose any unspent ESSER III / ARP budget within a handful of months.

Here’s a list of funding sources you can use to finance the Kids Read Now program:

• 💸 ESSER III (ARP) awards
• 💸 ESSA Title I, Part A
• 💸 ESSA Title IV, Parts A and E: Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants
• 💸 State literacy grants, through programs like the Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD)
• 💸 Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) grants
• 💸 Local educational funds and discretionary budgets specific to literacy and remedial education programs

Prioritizing literacy, OST, and marginalized students

More than 65% of kids across the country are not reading at grade level — a stat you experience firsthand in your role.

And sadly, the percentage of students below proficient in reading jumps to 80% for low-income families. Not surprisingly, these are the same families with fewer books at home and less access to supervised summer programming.

Kids Read Now’s mission of eliminating learning loss and building home libraries for every PreK-5 student in the country is more important and pressing than ever.

We are currently partnering with schools in over 30 states, and we have plans to expand to all 50 states by 2025.

The Kids Read Now (KRN) in-home reading program is evidence-based, and replicable.

Unlike other book programs, Kids Read Now includes unique components like student choice, reading activities, and parental engagement.

Programs that extend learning beyond the classroom, particularly during the summer and out-of-school times, are vital. The summer slide— the learning loss over the summer break —remains a significant challenge, disproportionately affecting low-income students.

Research-backed solutions like Kids Read Now offer a proactive approach to this issue, ensuring that students retain or enhance reading fluency and comprehension during the break.

Don’t let the summer slide slip by

Kids Read Now is designed to mitigate the summer slide through an in-home independent reading program tailored for PreK-5 students.

It extends into the school year with the Book Bridge program, maximizing out-of-school time (OST) for practice opportunities. This dual approach halts the summer slide but also reinforces daily reading habits.

The program’s efficacy is backed by robust data, demonstrating marked improvements in literacy rates among participants.

Investing now in programs like Kids Read Now is a quick and effective way to utilize available funds. More importantly, participating sets a foundation for continual academic achievement. It’s a strategic decision that can pay dividends in reading scores in the fall and throughout the school year.

Low lift for your teachers (and for you, too)

The deadlines for educational grants are fast approaching, and the window for effective budget use is closing.

Investing in literacy through Kids Read Now is more than a spending decision — it’s a commitment to your school, district, and state goals to raise reading achievement.

The best part?

Participating in the Kids Read Now program requires low lift from your teachers! They simply help children choose from a curated list of just-right books that match their interests, then we do the rest!

(That means we make your life easier, too!)

As an administrator and leader, you have the power to make a lasting impact while students are at school, as well as once they’ve raced home for summer and holiday breaks.

Choosing to invest in literacy means investing in student confidence, self-efficacy, engagement, and a love of reading.