COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) Director Stephen D. Dackin today announced the award of $45.9 million in Comprehensive Literacy State Development grants to 33 schools and districts across the state. The awards come from a $60 million grant given to Ohio by the U.S. Department of Education. 

Under Governor DeWine’s leadership and through his ReadOhio initiative, DEW is championing statewide efforts to raise literacy achievement. These grants will expand access to evidence-based literacy instruction for students in grades K-12 and professional learning for educators, with a focus on enhancing literacy instruction for underserved students across the state. 

“Literacy is the foundation for all learning,” said Governor DeWine. “By investing in our educators and aligning instruction to the Science of Reading, we are giving every Ohio student the opportunity to read confidently, succeed academically, and reach their full potential.” 

The grants will establish comprehensive literacy sites that provide literacy coaching, professional development, and daily reading instruction aligned to high-quality materials. Schools will also participate in training to promote family engagement in literacy and partner with community organizations, such as libraries and higher education institutions to support student achievement. 

“Ohio is investing in long-term literacy success,” Director Dackin said. “The learning experiences we provide today lead to tomorrow’s opportunities and these grants empower schools to deliver high-quality, research-based instruction, ensuring every learner receives the right tools to succeed.” 

View the full list of grant recipients. A total of 174 districts and schools submitted applications for the competitive process. Ohio was one of the 23 recipients selected by the U.S. Department of Education and received the second-largest amount of funding among states.