Alabama University Receives $9.9 Million Literacy Grant
The federal funding supports a reading program for students across 75 rural elementary schools in the state.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Financial Aid
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The United States Department of Education has awarded a $9.9 million grant to the University of Alabama to boost literacy in rural areas. Project LIFT will implement the Friends on the Block reading program for students in kindergarten through second grade.
Why it matters
This initiative provides intensive, targeted reading support to students who often struggle with standard interventions. By training local educators, the project aims to establish sustainable literacy expertise and improve outcomes for children in underserved rural communities.
The grant funds a phonics-based program featuring 25-minute lessons held three times per week. This initiative follows a previous five-year randomized controlled trial conducted by the University of Alabama that focused on students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The players
University of Alabama
This public research university serves as the lead institution for the literacy initiative and the recipient of the federal grant.
United States Department of Education
This federal agency oversees national education policy and provided the $9.9 million grant for the literacy project.
The details
Project LIFT will train teachers in 75 rural Alabama elementary schools to utilize the Friends on the Block curriculum, which relies on repetition and educational games to teach phonics. The program team will spend the first year collaborating with educators to refine implementation strategies before scaling instruction across the rural districts.
Timeline
The project is scheduled to operate over the next five years.
The team will consult teachers on program implementation during the first year.
Culture Shift
This initiative represents a strategic shift toward evidence-based, intensive literacy interventions within rural education. It builds directly upon the University of Alabama's Friends on the Block research trial to address systemic gaps in foundational reading skills.
Families in the 75 participating rural elementary schools will gain access to specialized, phonics-based reading support for children in kindergarten through second grade. This program ensures that students receive consistent, 25-minute literacy instruction three times per week at no additional cost to households.
The takeaway
Rural elementary schools in Alabama will receive expanded literacy resources over the next five years. Parents can support this transition by engaging with their school districts to ensure their children participate in the new phonics-based sessions.
Further reading
For more information on state resources, visit the Alabama Financial Aid section.
Live Poll
Should your local schools prioritize intensive reading support for students who struggle with traditional instruction?
