The Gresham‑Barlow School Board voted June 18 to authorize district administration to submit a competitive application for the Oregon Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant.

A district presenter told the board the federal grant totals about $57.9 million for Oregon over five years; Gresham‑Barlow is eligible to apply for up to $979,052 of the state allotment. The grant targets literacy from birth through grade 12, prioritizing disadvantaged students including students in poverty, English-language learners and students with disabilities. The speaker said districts must apply through the Oregon Department of Education portal and that applications were due by June 30; the district expected to be informed by August whether it received a subgrant.

The presenter described permitted uses that include professional development, high‑dosage tutoring and extended learning, adoption of evidence‑based literacy curricula, hiring literacy coaches and specialists, and development of local literacy plans. The funding must be distributed across grade bands as required by the grant: 16% for birth–kindergarten, 42% for grades K–5 and 42% for grades 6–12. The presenter said Gresham‑Barlow ranked 13th on the state's need list, which is one factor in eligibility, and that staff had rapidly gathered input from teachers, administrators and literacy coaches to prepare the application.

Board member Chris Howitt moved to authorize submission of the application; Holly Regalman seconded. Directors voted aye and the motion passed. Staff said the grant would supplement existing early literacy and middle‑grades supports and that more detailed plans and updates would be brought to the board if the district is awarded funds.