Summer Reading Camp Community Partnership Grant

The Summer Reading Camp Community Partnership Grant is administered by the South Carolina Department of Education through its Office of Instructional Supports and is funded by the South Carolina General Assembly under the state’s General Appropriations Act. The program is designed to support the expansion and effectiveness of summer reading camps by fostering structured partnerships between local school districts and community-based organizations. These partnerships are intended to address persistent literacy challenges among elementary school students, particularly those performing significantly below grade-level expectations in reading. The primary objective of the grant is to provide intensive, high-quality instructional services to struggling readers in elementary schools with a poverty index of 40 percent or greater. The program emphasizes structured literacy support aligned with the Read to Succeed Act and requires the integration of both academic instruction and enrichment activities. Participating programs must ensure access to diverse reading materials across multiple levels and genres and must create engaging, hands-on learning environments that encourage consistent attendance and active student participation. Funding for the program totals approximately $700,000, with an anticipated 10 to 15 awards distributed based on application quality and demonstrated need. Funds are intended to support allowable activities such as instructional staffing, tutoring, reading materials, enrichment programming, and professional development. Costs related to facility construction, political or religious activities, and equipment exceeding specified thresholds are prohibited. Matching funds are not required; however, applicants are encouraged to demonstrate additional investment from partners to strengthen program sustainability. Eligible applicants must be community partnerships composed of at least one local school district and one or more community organizations. These partnerships may include libraries, higher education institutions, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and other entities capable of contributing volunteers, mentors, or enrichment services. The school district is strongly encouraged to act as the fiscal agent. Programs must meet specific operational requirements, including a minimum of 96 instructional hours, certified teaching staff, transportation provision, and the use of approved reading assessment tools to measure student progress. Applications must be submitted through an online portal and include multiple required components such as a program summary, proposal narrative, budget summary, budget narrative, and appendices. The narrative must address key areas including need, goals and objectives, strategies and activities, management, and evaluation. Applications are reviewed competitively by a panel of independent reviewers using a standardized scoring rubric, with awards granted to proposals demonstrating strong alignment with program goals and high implementation capacity. The application deadline for the 2026 funding cycle was February 13, 2026, with a prior optional notice of intent due January 28, 2026. A technical assistance session was offered on January 21, 2026. Award notifications were scheduled for March 2026, and the grant performance period runs from March 21, 2026, through August 15, 2026, with final reports due August 28, 2026. For additional information, applicants may contact Ablean Hanna at the Office of Instructional Supports via email or phone.

Ensure strong alignment between needs assessment and proposed activities; clearly demonstrate partnership roles and sustainability; strictly follow formatting and submission requirements; ensure budget aligns with narrative; emphasize measurable reading outcomes