Emerson Early Literacy Challenge Application

Take the Next Step

Ready to take the next step in strengthening early literacy outcomes for your students? Complete the application below to be considered for Cohort 3 of the Emerson Early Literacy Challenge.

Applications are due Sept. 11, 2026.

Emerson Early Literacy Challenge Application Fall 2026

Please complete the following application questions as thoroughly as possible by Sept. 23 at 11:59 pm CT. There will be an information session to answer questions on Sept. 18 at 10 a.m. CT via this Zoom link, and a second information session on Sept. 21 at 3:30 p.m. CT via this Zoom link. Please reach out to Jonathan Caldera at jcaldera@theopportunitytrust.org with any other questions.

Local Education Agency (LEA) Overview

LEA Name(Required)

LEA Address(Required)

Name of primary contact for application(Required)

Role of primary contact for application(Required)

Email of primary contact for application(Required)

How did you hear about this opportunity?(Required)

Web advertisement

Print advertisement

From a friend/colleague

Other

Who did you hear about this opportunity from?

Target school(s) information

2026-2027 Grade levels served(Required)

2026-2027 Enrollment(Required)

Demographic Breakdown(Required)

This may include percentage of students by race and ethnicity, percentage of students by gender, and percentage of SPED students.

ELL Percentage(Required)

Please enter a number from 0 to 100.

2025-2026 Attendance rate(Required)

Please enter a number from 0 to 100.

2025-2026 MAP ELA Performance(Required)

If you’d prefer to upload a snapshot of your results, indicate that in this box and upload an image/pdf in the following question.

2025-2026 MAP ELA Performance

Drop files here or

Max. file size: 50 MB.

Literacy Artifacts

To get a more detailed picture of your LEA’s context and current state of literacy instruction, assessment practices, and implementation of the science of reading, we ask that you please upload the following artifacts, where available:

Please upload benchmark assessment results from 2025-2026

(e.g., iReady, NWEA, )

Drop files here or

Max. file size: 50 MB.

Chart or description of adopted early literacy core and intervention curricular materials for K-3

Make sure we can tell what year the materials were adopted.

Drop files here or

Max. file size: 50 MB.

Literacy Block Schedule

Drop files here or

Max. file size: 50 MB.

Chart or description of literacy instructional and leadership roles

Drop files here or

Max. file size: 50 MB.

Sample literacy professional development, PLC agendas, facilitation plans, and/or materials

Drop files here or

Max. file size: 50 MB.

Sample lesson and unit internalization protocols

Drop files here or

Max. file size: 50 MB.

Foundational skills screener and progress monitoring tools

Drop files here or

Max. file size: 50 MB.

Sample observation and feedback tools

Drop files here or

Max. file size: 50 MB.

At least three 10-20 minute videos of classroom instruction

Drop files here or

Max. file size: 50 MB.

LEA Team Members

The 4-5 person Core Team should include a “Head of Literacy,” Principal/Head of School, two Educators, and an optional fifth member of your choosing. Core Team members are expected to attend all scheduled programming detailed in the program timeline.

Core Team

1. Required: LEA “Head of Literacy”

Full Name(Required)

Title(Required)

Tenure at LEA(Required)

Email(Required)

Phone number(Required)

Relevant literacy experience(Required)

(e.g., trainings, certifications)

2-3 sentences describing why this person is being included(Required)

The LEA "Head of Literacy" is committed to attending all scheduled programming defined in the timeline.(Required)

Yes

2. Required: Principal/Head of School

Full Name(Required)

Title(Required)

Tenure at LEA(Required)

Email(Required)

Phone number(Required)

The Head of School is committed to attending all scheduled programming defined in the timeline.(Required)

Yes

3. Required: Educator 1

Full Name(Required)

Title(Required)

Please include grades and subjects this team member teaches.

Tenure at LEA(Required)

Email(Required)

Phone number(Required)

2-3 sentences describing why this person is being included(Required)

Educator 1 is committed to attending all scheduled programming defined in the timeline.(Required)

Yes

4. Required: Educator 2

Full Name(Required)

Title(Required)

Please include grades and subjects this team member teaches.

Tenure at LEA(Required)

Email(Required)

Phone number(Required)

2-3 sentences describing why this person is being included(Required)

Educator 2 is committed to attending all scheduled programming defined in the timeline.(Required)

Yes

5. Optional: other core team member (e.g., Additional educator, instructional coach)

Full Name

Title

Please include grades and subjects if this team member is an educator.

Tenure at LEA

Phone number

2-3 sentences describing why this person is being included

Questions

(Maximum 1,000 words per question)

1. Curriculum(Required)

What early literacy curriculum materials are currently used at your LEA for Kindergarten-3rd grade? How long have they been in use? What curriculum was used previously?

2. Science of Reading(Required)

What role, if any, does the Science of Reading currently play in your curriculum?

3. Literacy Initiatives(Required)

What steps has your LEA taken in the last three years to improve early literacy? What has been the most/least successful?

4. Professional Development(Required)

What types of Science of Reading professional development have been provided for leaders / educators to date? How many educators have received it?

5. Data Tools(Required)

What tools, systems and dashboards does your LEA use to make data collection, analysis and reporting easy and efficient? How frequently are you reviewing this data? Who is responsible for scoring, analyzing and visualizing data for your LEA?

6. Data-driven(Required)

How has your LEA used data to address student challenges? How is data being used to improve student outcomes, and ensure decision-making is data-driven?

7. Change experience(Required)

Please give an example of when your LEA set an ambitious goal around student learning and had to organize differently to meet that goal. What steps did you take? What data did you use to measure the results?

8. Essential Supports(Required)

Beyond curriculum and instruction, successful literacy programs are supported by healthy school learning climates, parent involvement, and community ties. What support systems does your LEA have in place to support this literacy journey? How might you involve parents and School Board members in the Emerson Early Literacy Challenge journey, should your LEA be selected?

9. Motivation(Required)

Why is your LEA a great applicant for the Emerson Early Literacy Challenge? What gives you confidence you can take your LEA’s learning to the next level through cohort learning? Is there anything else the reviewers should be aware of?

Participation Commitments

Attendance Commitment(Required)

Grant Funding is dependent on the Core Team attending all scheduled programming. Does your LEA commit to prioritizing attendance at all programming, should your LEA be selected?

Yes

Hosting Commitment(Required)

We plan to host one cohort learning session at each participating LEA. The Opportunity Trust will cover all supply and catering costs. Does your LEA commit to hosting one full-day cohort learning session at your participating school, should your LEA be selected? The group size would be ~25.

Yes

Interview Availability & Logistics

Interview Availability(Required)

Please select at least three windows when your LEA is available for an interview, should your LEA be chosen to advance to the interview round. These 60 minute slots will be held at your target school, and will include a classroom visit and an interview component. We hope to meet several members of your Core Team during this time.

Select at least 3 choices.

Select All

Monday 9/28 10 – 11 a.m. CT

Monday 9/28 12:45 – 1:45 p.m. CT

Monday 9/28 3-4 p.m. CT

Tuesday 9/29 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. CT

Tuesday 9/29 1:45 – 2:45 p.m. CT

Tuesday 9/29 3-4 p.m. CT

Interview Logistics

Please provide the below details regarding interview logistics, should your LEA be invited to the interview round.

School Name(Required)

School Address(Required)

Parking / Entry Instructions

Contact Name(Required)

Contact Phone Number(Required)

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