Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Education announced over $24 million in subgrants to support Iowa school districts and public charter schools in developing and implementing plans to improve student reading proficiency. The awards are part of a multiyear federal comprehensive literacy state development grant awarded to the Iowa DOE by the U.S. Department of Education to advance evidence-based literacy practices and interventions across the state. Priority for these grants are given to school districts with a large percentage of students from low-income backgrounds. “Strong reading skills are the foundation for lifelong learning and opportunity,” Reynolds said in a prepared statement. “These targeted investments will help schools ensure every child in Iowa can read confidently and succeed academically — no matter their background or where they live.”