Since 2020, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has expanded grant support using federal Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) funding for ELA/literacy under the grant program name GLEAM, Growing Literacy Equity Across Massachusetts. GLEAM grants support LEAs to implement equity-driven and sustainable improvements in programming across the Commonwealth through a multi-tiered system of support for ELA/literacy, as well as expanded access to high-quality PreK. A multi-tiered system of support, or MTSS, is an evidence-based approach to providing culturally and linguistically sustaining, tiered instruction to enable academic success of all students.

Congratulations to all FY24 GLEAM Grant Recipients!

Learn about the GLEAM Districts!

Cohort 2 [FY23–FY25]

FY23 GLEAM Activities

Cohort 2 recipients in Year 1 are engaging in the following GLEAM activities:

• Comprehensive systems analysis to establish a strong foundation for equity-driven and sustainable improvements for literacy teaching and learning
• Leadership coaching in service of building educator capacity, developing a comprehensive and diverse GLEAM Leadership Team, and establishing goals for improving literacy teaching and learning for all

FY24 GLEAM Preschool Activities

In year 2, Cohort 2 Preschool recipients are engaging in the following GLEAM activities:

• Evaluation, selection, and implementation of a high-quality preschool literacy screening assessment
• Evaluation of curricular materials utilizing EEC's Curriculum Rubric
• Selection and implementation of core and supplemental curricular materials for ELA/literacy in preschool
• Strengthen connections with community-based partners through various leadership coaching and professional learning opportunities

FY24 GLEAM K–12 Activities

In year 2, Cohort 2 K–12 recipients are engaging in the following GLEAM activities:

• [K–5] Evaluation, selection, and implementation of a high-quality early literacy screening assessment
• [Track 1] Evaluation and selection of evidence-based, inclusive, and culturally and linguistically sustaining high-quality curricular materials for ELA/literacy with the support of DESE's IMplement MA: Evaluate and Select High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) Network
• [K–12] Analysis of a district and school-wide Systems Analysis Report to inform the development of an evidence-based, inclusive, and culturally and linguistically sustaining MTSS literacy action plan.
• Connect as a cohort and build capacity as building-based literacy leaders by attending the monthly GLEAM Literacy Leaders Network.

Cohort 1 [FY22–FY24]

FY22 Preschool Activities

Cohort 1 PreK recipients in Year 1 engaged in the following GLEAM activities:

• Evaluation, selection, and implementation of a high-quality preschool literacy screening assessment
• Evaluation of curricular materials utilizing EEC's Curriculum Rubric
• Selection and implementation of core and supplemental curricular materials for ELA/literacy in preschool
• [508C] Collaborative completion of a Community Needs Assessment to inform the development of a comprehensive, evidence-based, inclusive, and culturally responsive, preschool literacy plan

FY23 Preschool Activities

In Year 2, PreK recipients are engaged in the following GLEAM activities:

• Equity-driven, evidence-based, inclusive, and culturally responsive implementation of new high-quality core and supplemental preschool curricular materials
• Implementation of a high-quality, valid, reliable, and language-based preschool literacy screening assessment
• Professional learning for district and EEC-licensed community partner educators to support evidence-based preschool literacy practices, use of preschool data in instructional decision-making, and foundational skills
• [508C] Evaluation, selection, and implementation of high-quality preschool literacy screening assessments and core/supplemental curricular preschool materials, utilizing EEC's Curriculum Rubric

FY24 Preschool Activities

In Year 3, Cohort 1 Preschool recipients are engaged in the following GLEAM activities:

• Implementation of a comprehensive sustainability plan for continued equity-driven, evidence-based, and culturally and linguistically sustaining literacy improvement
• Implementation of equity-driven, evidence-based, inclusive, and culturally and linguistically sustaining high-quality core and supplemental preschool curricular materials
• Continued Implementation of a high-quality, valid, reliable, and language-based preschool literacy screening assessment
• Professional learning for district and EEC-licensed community partner educators to support evidence-based preschool literacy practices, use of preschool data in instructional decision-making, and foundational skills
• [508C] Implementation of high-quality preschool literacy screening assessments and core/supplemental curricular preschool materials, utilizing EEC's Curriculum Rubric

FY22 K–12 Activities

Cohort 1 K–12 recipients in Year 1 engaged in the following GLEAM activities:

• [K–5] Evaluation, selection, and implementation of a high-quality early literacy screening assessment.
• [Track 1] Evaluation and selection of high-quality curricular materials for ELA/literacy with the support of DESE's IMplement MA: Evaluate and Select High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) Network.
• [Track 2] Completion of a district and school-wide Literacy Needs Assessment to inform the development of an evidence-based, inclusive, and culturally responsive MTSS literacy action plan.
• Connect as a cohort and build capacity as building-based literacy leaders by attending the monthly GLEAM Literacy Leaders Network.

FY23 K–12 Activities

In Year 2, Cohort 1 K–12 recipients are engaged in the following GLEAM activities:

• [Track 1] Equity-driven, evidence-based, inclusive, and culturally responsive implementation of new high-quality curricular materials for ELA/literacy
• [Track 2] Implementation of a comprehensive, culturally responsive, and equity driven MTSS Literacy Action Plan
• Development and implementation of a sustainability plan to ensure equity-driven literacy goals and improvements extend beyond the grant fund period
• Connection as a cohort and capacity building of building-based literacy leaders by attending the monthly GLEAM Literacy Leaders Network.

FY24 K–12 Activities

In Year 3, Cohort 1 K-12 recipients are engaged in the following GLEAM activities:

• [Track 1] Continued implementation and monitoring of Tier 1 equity-driven, evidence-based, inclusive, and culturally and linguistically sustaining high-quality curricular materials for ELA/literacy
• [Track 2] Monitoring and adjusting districts' comprehensive, culturally and linguistically sustaining, and equity-driven MTSS Literacy Action Plan
• Implementation of a comprehensive sustainability plan for continued equity-driven literacy goals and improvements that extend beyond the grant fund period
• Connection as a cohort and capacity building of building-based literacy leaders working toward sustainability by attending three GLEAM Literacy Leaders Network

GLEAM Resources

Weekly GLEAM Office Hours Registration (3:00 – 4:00 pm Mondays).

Contact Us

For questions, comments, or suggestions, email Lori McNally or GLEAM@mass.gov

Last Updated: September 26, 2023