REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action to Approve the Fiscal Year 2026/27 California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) Adult and Family Literacy Grant Award for the Read Santa Clara Program and Approve the Related Budget Amendment
Report
BACKGROUND
The California State Library, California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) provides a package of annually funded grants for ongoing operations of Adult and Family Literacy Services. The Santa Clara City Library Department’s Read Santa Clara program qualifies for these grants.
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2025/26, Read Santa Clara received $115,361 from CLLS for Adult and Family Literacy Services. This funding allowed the Library Department to achieve the following outcomes:
• 57 trained volunteer tutors tutored 85 adult learners with limited literacy skills, providing 1,136 one-on-one tutoring sessions and 275 small group sessions during the year.
• 70% of adult learners served achieved a goal they had set.
• The program held 12 monthly family literacy events at the library and 54 family literacy visits at state preschool classes, serving 116 families.
The FY 2026/27 award will provide continued support for these services and is $114,250, a decrease of $1,111 from the FY 2025/26 award.
At their September 14, 2026 meeting, the Board of Library Trustees recommended Council approval and appropriation of these grant funds to support the Read Santa Clara Adult and Family Literacy Services for FY 2026/27.
DISCUSSION
The total grant award amount of $114,250 for FY 2026/27 (Attachment 1) includes two components: Adult Literacy Services and Family Literacy Services. This year’s awards are provided using the “block grant” model, which provides libraries with greater flexibility in allocating funds among eligible programs. The grant award for Read Santa Clara requires that a minimum of 51% of the block grant award ($58,268) is allocated to Adult Literacy Services, and a minimum of 26% of the block grant award ($29,705) is allocated to Family Literacy Services.
The grant funds will be used to help offset costs for part-time as-needed positions and instructional resources including books, workbooks and supplies for the Adult and Family Literacy Services. Literacy services will continue to be offered for adult learners and their families online and in-person. In-person literacy services will be held at all Library locations and at family literacy outreach events in State preschool classes, as well as four school sites: Scott Lane, Montague, Briarwood and Hughes Elementary schools.
The CLLS grant requires that the grant awards are deposited in the City’s accounting system and expended by September 30, 2027, or by the final report due date. Staff will monitor and evaluate any unexpended funds against the approved budget and actual expenditures to ensure compliance with grant requirements.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
The $114,250 grant award will help offset operational costs of Read Santa Clara’s Adult and Family Literacy Services. Staff recommends recognizing this grant award and establishing an Adult & Family Literacy Program FY 2026/27 grant appropriation in the Library Operating Grant Trust Fund, as detailed in the table below.
Budget Amendment
FY 2026/2027
|
|
Current |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
Revised |
|
Library Operating Grant Trust Fund |
|
|
|
|
Revenue Other Agencies Revenue |
$0 |
$114,250 |
$114,250 |
|
Expenditures Adult & Family Literacy Program 26-27 |
$0 |
$114,250 |
$114,250 |
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the Finance Department and City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. Accept the FY 2026/27 California Library Literacy Services (CLLS) Grant Award in the Amount of $114,250 for Read Santa Clara, the Library’s Adult and Family Literacy Program; and
2. Approve the FY 2026/27 budget amendment in the Library Operating Grant Trust Fund to recognize grant funding in the amount of $114,250 and establish an Adult & Family Literacy Program 26-27 grant appropriation in the amount of $114,250 (five affirmative Council votes required to appropriate additional revenue).
Staff
Reviewed by: Patty Wong, City Librarian
Approved by: Jovan Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. FY 2026-27 CLLS Award Letter Read Santa Clara