The State Board of Education voted to award subgrants from the federal Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) grant and accepted a $25 million gift from the Sherwood Foundation to create the Nebraska Literacy Leadership Network.

The actions, approved during the board's Aug. 8 meeting, are part of a multi-year literacy strategy the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) says will combine federal, state and private funding for teacher training and local coaching. Commissioner Brian Maher told the board that the challenge is not finding resources but coordinating them.

Board action and why it matters

The board voted to award CLSD subawards to identified grantees and later voted to accept the Sherwood Foundation gift for the Nebraska Literacy Leadership Network. The CLSD money is intended for evidence-based reading instruction activities, and the Sherwood gift will target leadership and professional development for school and district leaders, board members said.

"There is a lot of money, and there are a lot of different people to thank," Commissioner Brian Maher said. "Resources aren't our issue. It's the how do we use those resources to accomplish our goals. Our goal is to improve student outcomes."

Board members framed the combined funding as a way to scale training and put coaches into classrooms. "We need coachessomebody who can come into a classroom and coach the talent that already exists within the teacher up," Maher said.

What the board approved

- Motion to award funding from the CLSD grant to identified subaward grantees (mover: Kristen Christensen). Vote: 8 yes, 0 no; motion adopted.
- Motion to accept grant funds for the Nebraska Literacy Leadership Network (Sherwood Foundation gift) (mover: Kristen Christensen). Vote: 8 yes, 0 no; motion adopted.

Board discussion and concerns

Board members praised the size and potential of the investments but also pressed staff on sustainability and accountability. Lisa Schonhoff and Deborah Neri both emphasized professional learning and coaching as essential to lasting change; Schonhoff called the CLSD grants "a gold standard project" and Neri highlighted the Sherwood gift as "transformational."

"One of the reasons why I'm really grateful for this $25 million is because there aren't any strings attached," Neri said, adding that the funds will be used to train administrators and literacy coaches.

Staff said the CLSD awards will fund a first round of subgrantees (46 recipients identified in the first portion), with some age-band allocations leaving some applicants unfunded this round; staff also said future rounds or re-awards are possible if dollars remain in later years of the multi-year grant.

Background

Board members and department staff have been pursuing a coordinated literacy effort for months. The board previously discussed the state's $55 million federal CLSD award and a push to create a statewide infrastructure for evidence-based reading instruction. The Sherwood Foundation gift, announced during the meeting discussion, increases private support for that effort.

What to watch next

Board members asked staff for follow-up on how success will be measured and how funds will be reallocated in later grant years. NDE staff said they will return with implementation details and with tracking and accountability plans as grant activities proceed.

Ending

Board members described the approvals as significant steps to expand literacy professional learning across Nebraska, while several members emphasized ongoing oversight to ensure the dollars produce measurable gains in student reading outcomes.