WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema helped secure a $20 million Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant for the Arizona Department of Education to improve Arizona students’ reading skills. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education to advance education and literacy in Arizona by expanding evidence-based reading instruction for educators and strengthening community collaborations that support reading achievement for children from birth through high school.
“Today’s grant funding increases critical resources to ensure all Arizona students have access to quality educations,” said Sinema.
The Arizona Department of Education’s new $20 million Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant will span five years at $4 million per year. Arizona’s grant project was developed through the collaboration of the Arizona Department of Education, Read On Arizona, and First Things First. The grant project will target children living in poverty, English learners, children with disabilities, Native American students, and those reading well below grade level. Last May, Sinema wrote in support of the grant project.
Read Sinema’s letter of support HERE.
Throughout her time in Congress, Sinema has championed Arizona students and teachers. Last year, Sinema helped secure an additional $40 million for the Impact Aid Program, which ensures schools on federal, military, and tribal lands are equipped to provide Arizona students with a quality education. Last year, Sinema also introduced the bipartisan Student Loan Tax Elimination Act that eliminates federal student loan origination fees, lessening the burden on students borrowing for college. She also helped secure a $2.5 million grant to Arizona State University to reduce textbook costs for students and their families.
Recently, Sinema called for additional funding for the Elementary and Secondary Education Relief Fund in any future coronavirus relief package. The CARES Act provided critical education funding, but more is needed to help cover the additional costs for this school year while also ensuring that schools nationwide will be ready to safely reopen for in-class learning when it is safe to do so. K-12 schools are facing added expenses this year amidst budget cuts and declining state and local revenue.
Sinema has previously called on the U.S. Departments of Interior and Education to distribute the already-approved $222 million CARES Act funding to support Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) Programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. In May, Sinema helped introduce the Emergency Educational Connections Act—legislation that provides $4 billion in federal support for tribal schools and libraries to provide Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and internet-enabled devices (as well as internet service through such equipment) to students, staff, and patrons.
Sinema has also added a resources page to her website, www.sinema.senate.gov/corona, for Arizonans looking for the latest information on coronavirus.
