Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Montessori For All
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 5100 Pecan Brook Drive
City: Austin
State: TX
Postal Code: 78724
Main Phone: 512-666-7189
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://www.montessoriforall.org/
Employer ID Number: 45-4908911
Organization Tax Status: Exempt 501c3

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 02/16/24
Requested Amount: $10,000

Project Title: Diverse Books
Project Description:

Research shows two factors are key to the success of any early literacy program: explicit instruction in phonics, and the use of curricular resources that feature characters who share students’ cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Unfortunately, few early reading resources check both boxes. Our goal is to produce books that do.

Visually captivating and realistically illustrated, Monarch Readers are unique in the early literacy landscape because they combine two science-backed approaches to teaching reading.
Designed for use in a phonics instruction curriculum, the readers also align with the philosophy Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop pioneered in her groundbreaking research on literacy: in order to grow into successful readers, children must be able to see themselves in books they read.

A 2023 nationwide intervention study conducted by First Book Research & Insights supports Sims Bishop’s claim. Researchers found that broadening children’s access to diverse books resulted in increases in student reading scores, surpassing nationally expected average yearly gains.
We have already produced the first set of Monarch Readers, targeting kindergarteners. This project will publish the next set, geared toward first- and second-graders.

Notably, the lowest-scoring students tracked in the First Book Study saw the greatest gains, and these are the learners who will gain the most from our project. Because low-income, Black, and Latino children are disproportionately overrepresented in this group, we expect our project to benefit these students the most.

The first set of Monarch Readers are used in schools across the country, including public Title I schools. We have especially granular data on one of these schools showing that 86% of students who used the first set of Monarch Readers were reading at or above grade level by the end of the school year, far exceeding statewide averages. We expect similar results from the next set in the series.

Total Project Budget: $161,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): So far, this project has received $5000 from the Austin Community Foundation and $10,000 from Claire and Carl Stuart. As of this writing, we have also applied to the Brabson Family Foundation and the Chisolm Foundation.

Project Duration: 1 year
Geographical Area Served: United States (nationwide)
Age Group To Be Served: 6-8

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Robyn
Contact Last Name: Carter
Contact Title: Grant Writer
Contact Phone: 415-706-9019
Contact Email: robynadaircarter@gmail.com