Leap Year Publishing

The Connecticut Literacy Grant awarded on August 24, 2026, gave the state a new federal funding stream for early reading support. The $10 million competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Education Innovation and Research program was announced by Connecticut officials as a five-year effort to strengthen literacy help for students in kindergarten through grade 3 who are experiencing significant reading difficulties state announcement.

For families, teachers, school … Read the rest

The Bipartisan READ Act moved through Congress in 2026 as lawmakers responded to a national literacy concern that teachers, families, and school leaders have been raising for years: too many students are leaving school without strong reading skills. As of September 1, 2026, the measure had advanced through the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and a companion version had been introduced in the House. It had not been … Read the rest

Authors entering the publishing process increasingly need to ask a question that goes beyond editing, distribution, and marketing: how will their work be handled throughout the publishing workflow? As artificial intelligence tools become more common across creative industries, publishers, editors, and author-service companies are creating policies around manuscript handling, copyright, marketing materials, and the use of automated tools.

For writers, the goal is not simply finding a company that offers … Read the rest

Massachusetts Literacy Grants awarded on August 6, 2026, gave districts a sizable new source of support for reading instruction, educator learning, and curriculum work. The Healey-Driscoll administration awarded nearly $24.7 million to 71 school districts and one educational collaborative to strengthen literacy instruction and improve reading outcomes across the state, according to the official Massachusetts announcement.

For families and educators, the number is only part of the story. The … Read the rest

Illinois Literacy Grants received a major statewide investment on August 13, 2026, when Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias awarded $28.9 million for library services and literacy programs across the state, according to the official state grant announcement. For families, educators, adult learners, and local library boards, the grant package is not only a funding headline. It points to the daily systems that make reading access … Read the rest

On August 14, 2026, the Rhode Island Department of Education announced more than $18 million in competitive federal funding for two new reading initiatives. The Rhode Island Literacy Grants came through the U.S. Department of Education’s Education Innovation and Research program and were described by RIDE as support for literacy achievement, high-quality teaching, and learning statewide in its RIDE announcement.

For families, educators, and community partners, the key point … Read the rest