For an early literacy initiative directed by the secretary of education, in consultation and coordination with the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and the commissioner of early education and care, to be known as Literacy Launch: Reading Success from Age 3 through Grade 3; provided, that said program shall provide grants, programming and materials to increase the number of public schools and licensed early education and care providers in the commonwealth providing evidence-based literacy instruction to students in pre-kindergarten through grade 3; provided further, that grants may support activities including, but not limited to: (i) the adoption and implementation of high quality curricular materials by public schools and districts and early education program providers; (ii) the provision of technical support, coaching, and professional development to maximize educator impact and improve student learning of literacy skills for students in pre-kindergarten through grade 3, including the support of required staff for the development and implementation of the program by the granting agencies; (iii) an acceleration of the program review of educator preparation programs approved by the department of elementary and secondary education; (iv) the coordination and alignment of assessment and screening, curriculum, and professional development across the departments of early education and care and elementary and secondary education; and (v) other professional learning initiatives and supports related to literacy assessment, measurement, and instruction for specific groups of learners or specific evidence-based materials; provided further, that grant recipients may include, but shall not be limited to: (i) public schools and districts and licensed early education and care programs providing pre-kindergarten instructional services; (ii) the University of Massachusetts; (iii) state universities and community colleges; and (iv) other educator preparation programs; provided further, that not later than November 28, 2025, the secretary of education shall provide a summary of the current and planned allocations of funds for each program funded through this item to the joint committee on education and the house and senate committees on ways and means and that such report shall include: (i) a list of grant recipients; (ii) grants awarded delineated by recipient; (iii) any matching funds or services contributed by grant recipients or program participants; (iv) the purposes of the grants; and (v) a detailed breakdown of the purposes and amounts of administrative costs charged to this item; provided further, that funds may be expended for grants to high-needs schools and districts to support the hiring of literacy coaches who can provide direct instruction and tutoring to students in early literacy, and high-dosage early literacy tutoring programs utilizing virtual instruction focused at the first grade level; and provided further, that any unexpended funds in this item shall not revert but shall be made available until August 30, 2026
| | Education and Transportation Fund | ............... | 100% |
