Benchmark Related Programs & Documents - Oregon Progress Board

The Ready to Read Grant was created in 1993 to provide funding for Oregon public libraries to establish, develop, and improve library youth services with an emphasis on preschool age children. All legally establish public libraries in Oregon are eligible to apply for this noncompetitive grant administered by the Oregon State Library. In 2007 the Oregon Legislative Assembly passed, and Governor Ted Kulongoski signed, legislation that increased Ready to Read funding from $0.84 per child to $1 per child, established a minimum grant of $1,000 and narrowed the focus to early literacy services for children 0-5 years old and the statewide Summer Reading Program for children 0-14 years old. Public libraries are in a unique position to provide free high-quality early literacy training, resources, and services to caregivers to help them get their children ready to learn.