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 responsive, tiered instruction to enable academic success of all students.

Learn about the GLEAM Districts!

Cohort 2 [FY23–FY25]

Cohort 2 districts will be announced in the coming weeks. Thank you to all who applied!

Overview

GLEAM Cohort 2 PreK–12 (closed) and Preschool-Only (closed) competitive program grants, began in FY23, and provide funding to schools for a range of ELA/Literacy teaching and learning improvement activities, such as:

• Comprehensive district-wide systems and literacy Needs Assessment
• Ongoing, customized, and high-quality leadership coaching and development
• Procurement of a valid and reliable early literacy screening assessment and training to implement
• Procurement of high-quality core curricular materials and intervention materials
• Professional development for teachers, principals, and literacy coaches
• Expansion and enhancement of high-quality public preschool

Cohort 1 [FY22–FY24]

FC508 Growing Literacy Equity Across Massachusetts (GLEAM) Preschool Grants — (Closed)

Congratulations to GLEAM Cohort 1 Preschool Recipients!

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

FC509/510 Growing Literacy Equity Across Massachusetts (GLEAM) K–12 Program Grants (Closed)

Congratulations to GLEAM Cohort 1 K–12 Recipients!

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.

GLEAM Resources

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

Contact Us

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

Last Updated: January 5, 2023