Miami University receives grant funding to support Center of Excellence in Literacy, Education, Advancement, and Development
The university received $750,000 in Third Frontier Research Incentive funding from the Ohio Department of Higher Education.
Miami University has received $750,000 in Third Frontier Research Incentive funding from the Ohio Department of Higher Education to support its Center of Excellence in Literacy, Education, Advancement, and Development (MU-LEAD). The funding comes as part of Ohio Governor, and Miami ’69 alumnus, Mike DeWine’s efforts to implement Science of Reading in classrooms around the state.
According to an article on Miami University’s website, Governor DeWine was quoted as saying of the award and Science of Reading in a press release, "We know that the Science of Reading is the best method for teaching students how to read. By supporting Structured Literacy Centers at universities across the state, we will help our future and current teachers master the Science of Reading so they can help every Ohio child become a confident reader and reach their full potential.”
Per Ohio law, all public school districts in the state must implement evidence-based literacy curricula and teacher training that is aligned with the Science of Reading in K-12 classrooms. In December 2025, Miami University received a perfect score on its Science of Reading audit, reflecting the university’s commitment to teacher preparedness in all of its College of Education, Health, and Society's programming.
Sarah Watt, who is an associate professor of Inclusive Education, and Racheal Banda Rothrock, who is an associate professor of Teaching, Curriculum, and Educational Inquiry, served as principal investigators on the grant proposal.
Watt said, “Our hope through this project is to empower teachers with access to tools, products, and professional development that can meet them where they are in their current implementation of SLP. The MU-LEAD team recognizes that each district, school, and classroom in Ohio face unique challenges when it comes to implementing these practices to support all learners. While most Ohio teachers undergo more than 30 hours of training in Structured Literacy, application in the classroom is not always seamless. The MU-LEAD center will work beside teachers to create resources and capacity that can strengthen their implementation and support this important work.”
The project seeks to implement Science of Reading and translate Structured Literacy pedagogy into actionable training and professional development for PreK-12 teachers.
Amity Noltemeyer, the dean of the College of Education, Health, and Society, said, “This award is a testament to the expertise and hard work of the MU-LEAD team. I can't wait to see the impact this will have on the community.”
The grant funding will be used through June 30, 2027.
For more information about Miami University, visit the school’s website.