The First Lady's Family Literacy Initiative for Texas

Official 2012-2013
GRANT COMPETITION ANNOUNCEMENT

We are pleased to announce the annual grant competition of The First Lady's Family Literacy Initiative for Texas, a program of The Barbara Bush Texas Fund for Family Literacy.

Two grant opportunities are now available.

Family Literacy Program Implementation Grants

Up to ten Implementation Grants of up to $50,000 will be awarded to Texas organizations to:

help create a family literacy program, i.e. one that offers three integrated components:

adult literacy education (basic literacy, GED® Test preparation, or English as a Second Language) for parents or primary caregivers,
pre-literacy or literacy instruction for young children (ages birth through grade 3) of those adults, and
interactive literacy activities for the young children together with their parents or primary caregivers;

expand an existing literacy program that works with only one generation so that a complete family literacy program (including the required components named above) can be created;
allow for an innovative project within an existing family literacy program; or
replicate a successful family literacy program with a new population or in a new location.

Family Literacy Program Planning Grants

Up to five Planning Grants of $5,000 will be awarded to Texas organizations to support a 9-month planning and development process (from June 2012 through February 2013), intended to enable an organization to more effectively compete in 2013 for a 2013-2014 First Lady's Family Literacy Initiative for Texas Program Implementation Grant of up to $50,000.

Receipt of a Planning Grant does not guarantee subsequent selection to receive an Implementation Grant, as described above. A separate 2013-2014 Implementation Grant application must be submitted at the end of the planning period and will be judged on its merits in competition with all other Implementation Grant applications.

We are also pleased to announce a NEW initiative of The Barbara Bush Texas Fund for Family Literacy.

Family Literacy Trailblazer Grants

The new Trailblazer Grant of up to $50,000 per year for three consecutive years will be awarded to no more than three organizations. Their term of funding will extend for a total of three years, pending an annual review by leadership of The First Lady's Family Literacy Initiative for Texas.

Trailblazer Grant organizations will be selected from among 2012-2013 Implementation Grant recipients that have operated a family literacy program of proven effectiveness for a minimum of four years.
After Implementation Grant awards are announced in May 2012, eligible organizations from that group will be offered the additional opportunity to apply for a longer-term funding commitment in the form of a Trailblazer Grant.
In exchange for a longer-term funding commitment, Trailblazer Grant programs will be expected to share their practices and experiences through a variety of outreach or professional development activities and mentorship of less-experienced family literacy programs.
Trailblazer Grants will be selected based on quality, specific approach to family literacy, population served, geographic location, and creativity and value of proposed outreach activities.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants for both Implementation and Planning Grants must:

be a local educational agency; non-profit 501(c)3 organization; community-based organization; public institution; correctional agency; or a consortium of these agencies;
be based with an established organization that has maintained current non-profit or public status for at least two years as of the date of the application be prepared to document fiscal accountability if requested by The Barbara Bush Texas Fund (i.e., provide copy of most recent annual audit report or IRS return; and

Eligible applicants for Implementation Grants must:

already provide adult literacy, early childhood, or intergenerational literacy activities as part of their organizational mission.

Eligible Implementation Grant proposals must describe programs that:

begin offering services to families by September 15, 2012 and end by June 30, 2013;
include reading instruction for parents and/or primary care-givers; developmentally appropriate reading, pre-reading, or language development for their children; and a specific parent/child literacy component during which parents and children learn and read together (PACT - parent and child together time);
serve parents along with their children who are of the ages from birth through 3rd grade;
measure adult progress using an adult education National Reporting System-approved assessment instrument (See NRS Assessment Database click here); and
assess children’s development using an age-appropriate standardized assessment or screening instrument (see Guidance on Early Childhood Assessment for Texas Even Start Coordinators click here).

Application Deadline, Submission, and Decision Timeline

Deadline for all Implementation Grant and Planning Grant applications to be received at TCALL is 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 5, 2012.

As of noon on Friday, March 2, 2012, the 2012-2013 First Lady's Grant Request for Application (RFA) online form is no longer available. To request an application after that time, email hsmith@tamu.edu.

For both Implementation and Planning Grants, funding decisions will be made and all applicants notified of the outcome by May 15, 2012.

General Guidelines and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

The Implementation Grant competition is open to both current and former grant recipients, who will compete on an equal basis with new applicants.
Implementation Grant programs are encouraged to form collaborations; in fact, strong partnerships are essential. However, two entities may not combine to request funds of more than $50,000.
Implementation Grants often propose budgets that include reasonable costs for meals and snacks, training, testing materials, conferences, grant orientation meeting, and outside evaluators; all of which are allowed.
Implementation Grant winners will attend two required trainings at the Texas Center for the Advancement of Literacy and Learning (TCALL) in College Station, Texas. The first training will be held soon after the awards are announced in May, 2012.
An organization may NOT apply for both an Implementation Grant and a Planning Grant. If both applications are submitted, only the planning grant application will be considered.
Implementation Grant awards are paid out to selected grantees on the following schedule: 50% upon receipt of a signed Letter of Acceptance; 25% upon meeting progress reporting requirements due in December 2012; 25% upon meeting final reporting requirements in due by June/July 2013.
Planning Grant awards are paid out to selected grantees on the following schedule: $4,000 upon receipt of a signed Letter of Acceptance; and $1,000 upon meeting final reporting requirements due in December 2012.
Grant directors will be required to submit periodic written progress and budget reports and will be available for periodic phone consultation with the technical assistance project at TCALL.
Any changes to the proposed project must be reported to the technical assistance project at TCALL for approval.
Because of the volume of applications received, the Initiative is unable to provide feedback on individual application evaluations. All applications will be retained by The Barbara Bush Texas Fund for Family Literacy.
The Fund retains the right to revoke a grant if the implemented project does not reflect the application that was submitted or comply with the stated guidelines.

Assistance

For general questions about these grants or the application process, call 800-441-READ (7323) and ask for Emily Seeber or Harriet Smith.

The First Lady’s Family Literacy Initiative for Texas is an initiative of The Barbara Bush Texas Fund for Family Literacy.
For more information, contact TCALL Director Harriet Smith.

Back to The First Lady’s Initiative Main Page