La Porte ISD is among 16 school districts in Texas being considered for a portion of $3 million in grant funding as part of the Moody Foundation and the Charles Butt Foundation Texas Reads, Texas Leads initiative. The grant will showcase strategies for using best practices supported in the science of teaching reading and blended learning pedagogy to improve K-3 reading outcomes. 

The initiative will leverage local, state and national momentum catalyzing time, attention and resources to increase the likelihood science-based practices become fully integrated across departmental, school and classroom materials.

The grant also includes additional in-kind technical assistance to implement K-3 Literacy Plans which detail strategic moves, decision points, and district investments to meet ambitious academic outcomes goals for K-3 reading proficiency. The 16 finalists were chosen based on their TXRL application and to reflect Texas’s demographic and geographic diversity with the goal of demonstrating that every K-3 student can master foundational reading skills before 3rd grade, and read on grade level before 4th grade.

The finalist cohort reflects a diverse mix of suburban, rural and urban districts, ranging in size from 2,000 to 56,000 enrolled students. Finalist districts will participate in a Leadership Convening and a series of workshops during the 2024-2025 school year to develop their TXRL Implementation Plans. In June 2025, eight winning districts will be selected to each receive up to $250,000 in grant funding.