Section 32p(6) Literacy Grants

The Section 32p(6) Literacy Grants, administered by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP), provide state funding solely for the purpose of improving access to books and other literacy materials for children from birth to age five. Funds are allocated to intermediate school districts (ISDs) serving as fiduciaries for their local Great Start Collaborative (GSC) and Great Start Family Coalition (GSFC) to ensure coordination and expansion of early childhood literacy resources.

Funding is awarded on a formula basis to ISDs or consortia of ISDs. If funding allocated under this subsection is insufficient to enroll all interested families in literacy services, each intermediate district is statutorily required to prioritize enrollment for those families with the highest levels of economic need. Grantees must also convene a local GSC and GSFC that includes an active partnership with at least one community-based organization and at least 20 percent parent membership.

Funds may be used to support programs that provide books and literacy materials to children birth through age five, including, but not limited to, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, Reach Out and Read Michigan, or other comparable literacy initiatives. Allowable expenditures include staff, materials and supplies, meeting expenses, barrier-reduction supports for parents (such as transportation and childcare), and administrative costs capped at 10 percent of requested state funds. Funds cannot be used for indirect costs, building leases, construction, or stipends to encourage program participation. Carryover of Section 32p(6) funds into the next fiscal year is prohibited; unused funds must be returned to MiLEAP.

Eligible ISDs must submit their grant application and budget through Michigan's electronic grant management system, NexSys, by selecting Apply Now on the Review Grant Selections page. Applications require submission of the GSC/GSFC Annual Work Plan, 32p Programming Work Plan, and Current GSC/GSFC Action Agenda. Grantees must submit required expenditure reports via NexSys and provide an annual year-end evaluation report detailing the impact of the funding in increasing access to literacy materials.