Abstract:
Dear Chairman Blunt and Ranking Member Murray: As your Subcommittee considers Fiscal Year 2021 appropriations, we urge you to increase
funding for the Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) grant program administered by the
Department of Education. In the most recent competition for IAL there were 145 applications
reviewed but funding only allowed for 40 to be funded. With a new completion planned for Fiscal
Year 2021, an increase would ensure that more communities would benefit from IAL awards to
school libraries as well as national not-for-profit organizations that support literacy outside of
school. By providing age-appropriate books, supporting parental engagement programs, and
reinforcing professional development, the IAL program helps strengthen literacy skills to ensure
that children enter school ready to learn and continue to be best positioned for success.