Find funding resources for Novel Effect
Novel Effect plans are budget-friendly and often fit within discretionary funds.
If you’re wondering how to cover the cost of a school or district plan, we’ve got you! Use the resources below to request funding and show the value to colleagues, parents, and decision-makers.
More funding sources:
Ask your principal or library media specialist
Novel Effect subscriptions are within typical discretionary budgets, making it an accessible and meaningful way to support literacy across your school. Pro tip: let them try a soundscape with students before you ask!
principal email draft text
Dear Principal [Last Name],
I wanted to share something that’s been creating real excitement in our classroom—and I think it’s something that could benefit every student in our school. It’s called Novel Effect, an award-winning app that adds music, sounds, and character voices as we read books aloud. The app responds to your voice as you read, transforming books into an immersive experience.
Since using Novel Effect in my classroom, I’ve seen students more engaged, focused, and excited to participate in reading. It supports key literacy goals like fluency, listening comprehension, and motivation—especially for students who may not otherwise be enthusiastic about reading.
Novel Effect works with many of the titles we already have on our classroom and library shelves, so we’re getting even more out of the books we already love.
Here’s a look at the plan options:
- $799/year for a School Plan; giving Premium access to all teachers.
- $1,298/year for a Community Plan, which provides Premium access for staff, students, and families at home.
I’m writing to see if you’d consider funding a school-wide Novel Effect plan. It’s an easy, meaningful way to strengthen literacy across all grade levels while making read-alouds more joyful, engaging, and creative for both students and teachers.
If you’d like to learn more, I’d be happy to show it to you in action, or you can stop by my classroom [Day/Time] during literacy block to see how students are responding!
Thank you so much for considering this opportunity to enrich our reading experiences!
Ask your PTO
Novel Effect subscriptions are within the typical PTO funding range, making it an accessible and meaningful way to support literacy across your school.
PTO email draft text
Copy the text above to paste into an email and use the template as a guide to get started. Many teachers have successfully relied on PTO fund for individual subscriptions as the approval process for a School or District plans is completed.
Dear [PTO President/Committee/Team],
I wanted to share something that’s been creating real excitement in our classroom, and I think it’s something that could benefit every student in our school. It’s called Novel Effect, an award-winning app that adds music, sound effects, and character voices as we read books aloud. The app responds as you read, transforming the experience into something magical.
Since using Novel Effect in my classroom, I’ve seen students more engaged, focused, and excited to participate in reading. It supports key literacy goals like fluency, listening comprehension, and motivation—especially for students who may not otherwise be enthusiastic about reading.
Best of all, Novel Effect works with many of the books we already use in classrooms, libraries, and even at home.
Here’s a look at the plan options:
- $799/year for a School Plan, giving access to all teachers.
- $1,298/year for a Community Plan, which covers access for staff, students, and families at home.
I’m writing to ask if the PTO would consider funding a School Plan so that every teacher can use Novel Effect with their students. This would be a meaningful way to support literacy instruction across all grade levels, and bring a little extra joy to story time.
If you’d like to see Novel Effect in action, I’d be happy to demonstrate it or provide more information. The app is free to download, so you can also give it a try at home with your student.
Thank you so much for considering this opportunity to enrich our reading experiences!
Write a grant
Novel Effect Plans are typically eligible for many school or district-wide grants, a practical option for finding funds through existing programs. Here’s example grant application text to get your writing process started.
Grant draft text
Grant Title: Novel Effect Read-Aloud Engagement Tool
Cost of Request (select one):
- $799/year* for all teachers at one school (School Plan)
- $1,298/year* for all teachers, students, and families at one school (Community Plan)
More details at Novel Effect School Plans
Note: Districtwide Plans are eligible for discounts. Request a quote to determine specific pricing for your district.
Grade Levels Served: Pre-K through 5th
Purpose of Funds: Funds will be used to purchase a school- or community-wide subscription to Novel Effect, an app that adds interactive music, sound effects, and character voices to children’s books as they are read-aloud, using books already available in our classrooms and library.
Project Description: Novel Effect enhances traditional classroom read-alouds by syncing real-time audio effects with the reader’s voice. As teachers read books aloud—titles we already use in our curriculum and libraries]—the app responds with engaging sound effects and character voices that bring stories to life.
Novel Effect supports key literacy outcomes including fluency, listening comprehension, and reading motivation, especially among reluctant or struggling readers. The app is easy to use, integrates seamlessly with physical books, and requires no major setup or training.
Note: Novel Effect does not replace physical books. Instead, it complements the stories we already read aloud by layering an immersive audio experience over the live reading.
Need and Student Outcomes: Students across the country are struggling with reading proficiency. According to the 2019 National Assessment of Educational Progress:
- Two-thirds of U.S. students are not reading at grade level. (Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress (2019).
- Read-alouds are among the most impactful ways to support reading development and long-term reading success. (Source: Becoming a Nation of Readers. 1985)
Yet, many students are not read to regularly, especially those from under-resourced communities. Novel Effect makes read-alouds more engaging and memorable, helping teachers and families:
- Keep students focused during reading time
- Encourage a love of reading
- Reduce screen time while increasing literacy exposure
According to a Novel Effect subscriber survey:
- 89% of teachers said books were more engaging
- 83% saw students grow more confident reading aloud
- 81% reported students asked to read more often
Additional benefits include:
- Promotes fluency, expression, and oral language skills
- Motivates shy or reluctant readers
- Supports English Language Learners and special education populations
- Encourages visualization and auditory comprehension
- Provides a multi-sensory, inclusive experience for all learners
Equity & Inclusion Impact: Research shows that read-aloud frequency and exposure declines sharply as children age, especially in lower-income households. According to The Rise of the Read Aloud, a reading report by Scholastic, “Reading aloud peaks at age five. While a majority of families read aloud 5–7 days a week before a child enters kindergarten (55%), this percentage begins to decline dramatically with each additional year of age.”
Novel Effect bridges this gap by making read-alouds more compelling and accessible, encouraging consistent and joyful reading across diverse classrooms and age groups. It also offers the option to extend literacy experiences from school to home through its Community Plan, which includes student and family access beyond the classroom.
What Educators Are Saying: “Our elementary school loves Novel Effect because of the engagement level that it adds to read-alouds. . . I see Novel Effect as a tool to support foundational skills, including vocabulary and comprehension, which builds a love of reading — especially among our most reluctant readers.” –Dr. Danielle T., Principal
“[Novel Effect] makes all the difference in engagement with readers – especially struggling readers like at our school. There are students at our school that have learned how to use Novel Effect and it has really increased their desire to read!” –Stephanie S., Media Specialist
“Novel Effect is the perfect launch pad for student engagement. It’s something ALL teachers can use regardless of their tech ability, and the way it tugs at those literacy heart strings… priceless!” –Janet B., Tech Integration Specialist
Student Data & Privacy: Novel Effect does not collect any personally identifiable student information. Classroom devices are logged in anonymously and usage data is kept only for internal operational purposes. Learn more in the Classroom Privacy Policy.
Implementation Timeline: The Novel Effect app is available on iOS and Android devices and on the web for subscribers at app.noveleffect.com. Once installed and registered, educators can begin using it immediately. Teachers simply:
1. Choose a book already in their classroom
2. Open the corresponding title in the Novel Effect app
3. Tap “Start” and begin reading aloud
There is virtually no learning curve, and teachers can integrate the tool into their next story time.
Success Metrics:
- Improved student engagement during read-alouds
- Positive teacher feedback
- Increased frequency of independent and group reading
- Growth in fluency and comprehension assessments over time
Cost & Plan Options:
- $799/year: School Plan – all staff at one school
- $1,298/year: Community Plan – all staff, students, and families
Procurement Information:
Novel Effect accepts school purchase orders, checks, or credit cards. Quotes and plan details can be requested at www.noveleffect.com/quote.
Present Novel Effect
When you’re ready to present Novel Effect at a conference, to your principal, or for colleagues at professional development, there’s no need to start from scratch!
Get Novel Effect presentation
Additional funding options
- TITLE I: Advance access and promote literacy equity for all learners.
- TITLE II: Advance access and promote literacy equity for all learners.
- TITLE III: Empower Multilingual Learners with context-rich tools.
- TITLE IV: Enhance family engagement to boost student motivation.
- IDEA: Provide differentiated support for students with IEPs and 504s.
