Official Site of The State of New Jersey

Since 2025, the New Jersey Department of Education has awarded over $16 million in competitive literacy-related grant funds to New Jersey Public School Districts through the following initiatives:

• Building Responsive Instruction through Data-Guided Evaluation (BRIDGE) grants support schools in using screening data to implement evidence-based literacy instruction in grades kindergarten through grade three. There were 19 school districts that received BRIDGE grants last school year, and those districts have the opportunity to apply for $570,000 in continued funding this school year.  Separately, an additional 20 school districts will receive $1.4 million to establish new BRIDGE programs.
• Cultivating Ongoing Achievement through Coaching in Literacy (COACH) for teacher coaches: Nearly $6 million in grant funding will help 41 school districts and charter schools hire or train qualified literacy coaches to support kindergarten to grade-12 educators. Grantees will participate in a statewide coaching network.
• Funding for Optimal Comprehensive Universal Screeners (FOCUS) grants were awarded to 305 school districts last year. This year, the NJDOE is awarding a total of $1.95 million to continue FOCUS programs in those school districts.
  The grants assist school districts as they continue to implement and improve efforts required by the State to     conduct at least two literacy screening assessments each year for all students in kindergarten through grade three. Schools are also required to keep parents informed of screening results. The funding may also be used to provide professional development for teachers.
• Instructional Materials for Professional Advancement and Coherent Teaching (IMPACT) grants for high-quality instruction materials and training: This nearly $5 million grant will help schools implement high-quality instructional materials and provide professional development to ensure staff will effectively utilize the materials. Awards have been given to 25 school districts and charter schools, which range up to $400,000.
  FOCUS (1 & 2)
• Literacy Initiative for Families and Thriving Communities (LIFT) grants for family outreach: This nearly $1.6 million initiative, led by the NJDOE in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, provides funding of up to $60,000 for 41 districts and charter schools in this initial year to create programs that develop home-based literacy habits and encourage family involvement in literacy development of children from newborns to age 3.  
• Reading Intervention for Secondary Engagement (RISE) for middle and high-school readers: Over $1,000,000 will provide funding for school districts and charter schools to implement evidence-based best practices or high-quality literacy instruction materials identified through criteria set by the NJDOE. Eligible costs include tutors, literacy coaches, and staff training. A total of 31 districts and charter schools have been awarded up to $50,000 in the first round of funding.

Visit the Championing Literacy: Competitive Grant Awards Across New Jersey  map to view the literacy initiatives’ reach across the state. Hover over each blue circle to view the local education agency and its awards.