Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

This page contains the text of a regulation adopted by the Missouri State Board of Education.  An official copy of the full text of this regulation is contained in the Code of State Regulations, published by the Office of Secretary of State.

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Title 5—DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
Division 50—Division of Instruction
Chapter 378—Instructional Grant Programs

5 CSR 50-378.100 Read to be Ready Grant Program

PURPOSE:  This rule establishes procedures for the Read to be Ready Grant Program and for assisting districts with reading instruction and assessment. 

(1)  The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) shall provide a four (4)-year competitive matching grant program (Read to be Ready Grant Program) at the district and building level to defray the costs of reading assessment and/or for teacher and administrator training in the use of reading assessment and/or in early grade reading intervention strategies.  Within the reading program supported by grant funds, classroom teachers shall have the option of selecting the most appropriate intervention method given an individual student’s needs.  Grant funds may also be used to expand existing reading instruction improvement programs and for explicit phonics instruction. 

(A)  DESE will consider grant applications that focus on reading for vision- and hearing-impaired students.

(B)  Grants will be distributed in equal amounts within geographic areas established by DESE, proportionately based on student population.  DESE may reallocate funds if an area has insufficient applications or insufficient eligible applications to obligate all funds for the area. 

(C) Grants may be renewable (subject to appropriation) for an additional four (4)-year period, based in part on results of the first four (4)-year grant. 

(D) Additional priority shall be given to programs that include a parental-involvement component. 

(2)  The application for the Read to be Ready Grant Program may be obtained by contacting the Special State Instructional Programs Section, DESE, PO Box 480, Jefferson City, MO  65102.  In its grant application, the school district shall describe its current program of reading assessment instruction, at the building level if applicable.  The applicant should show a need for improved assessment and instructional methods and explain which assessment and reading instruction improvement program(s) it will implement under the grant and how it proposes to judge student progress. 

(3)  In order to receive Read to be Ready Grant funds for years three (3) and four (4), grantees must demonstrate that students receiving grant-funded instruction are showing improvement after the second year.  Grantees must report the grade three (3) communication arts Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) assessment results for a two (2)-year period prior to the grant application and for the first two (2) years of the grant for students participating in the grant-funded instructional program; performance on this assessment may be a factor in the granting or denial of continuation funds, but primary emphasis shall be given to the plan of reading and the measurements selected by the grantee. 

(4)  Upon conclusion of the grant and upon demonstration of significant levels of improvement, pursuant to the rules promulgated by the State Board of Education (the board), DESE may reimburse the district for its match from funds appropriated for such purpose. 

(A) Reimbursed funds shall be returned to the district’s operating funds. 

(B)  Districts are only eligible for the reimbursed match one time.

(5)  DESE has developed and the board has approved a list of research-based reading assessments, Reading Assessment Instruments, for assessing kindergarten through grade three (3) students.  This list is to serve as a guideline for districts choosing reading improvement assessments and instructional methods pursuant to the Read to be Ready Grant Program; however, districts are not required to use the listed reading assessment(s). 

AUTHORITY:  sections 161.092, RSMo 1994 and 160.514, 167.340, 167.343, and 167.346, RSMo Supp. 1999.*  Original rule filed Sept. 27, 2000, effective May 30, 2001.

*Original authority: 160.514, RSMo 1993; 161.092, RSMo 1963, amended 1973; 167.340, RSMo 1999; 167.343, RSMo 1999; 167.346, RSMo 1999.