Sponsors (6)
Official title: Strengthen literacy outcomes for all students, to amend the comprehensive literacy State development grant program, and to ensure Federal accountability and investment in research, teacher preparation, and evidence-based instruction aligned with the science of reading.
Introduced June 4, 2026 by Bill Cassidy · Last progress June 4, 2026
The bill aims to raise literacy by steering schools toward a defined 'science of reading' with federal funding, training, screening, and evaluation supports — at the potential cost of substantial implementation expense, added administrative burden, and reduced instructional flexibility for districts and teachers.
K–12 students (particularly in early grades) would get more consistent, evidence-aligned reading instruction tied to the 'science of reading,' improving literacy and long-term workforce readiness.
Teachers and school staff would gain strengthened preparation, ongoing coaching, and professional development to deliver structured, evidence-based literacy instruction.
At-risk students (including those with dyslexia) would receive earlier identification and clearer access to targeted interventions through universal screening and required supports, reducing long-term learning gaps.
States, districts, and schools would face substantial implementation costs (new curricula, screening tools, assessments, materials, and widespread teacher retraining), straining budgets and potentially increasing taxpayer burden.
Centering federal policy on a defined 'science of reading' risks reducing instructional flexibility and crowding out alternative or locally preferred literacy methods, forcing some teachers and programs to change practices.
States and LEAs will incur increased administrative and reporting burdens (needs assessments, disaggregated data reporting, evaluations, licensure updates) that divert time and resources from instruction.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Establishes a federal literacy initiative under ESEA that funds science-of-reading aligned instruction, revises grant reservations/allotments, requires parent notifications, and tightens definitions of evidence-based practice.
Creates a federal literacy initiative that directs new and revised grant programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to raise K–12 reading proficiency by promoting instruction aligned with the "science of reading." It defines key terms, narrows the federal definition of "evidence-based," sets aside reserved funds for national activities and state grants (including targeted support for lowest-performing states), requires parent notifications when students are identified at risk or below grade level, and preserves IDEA/504/ADA protections while prohibiting the Department of Education from dictating specific curricular content to states or schools.