The READ Act aims to tackle America's literacy crisis by overhauling federal support for reading instruction in K-12 schools, requiring states and school districts to align teaching methods with the "science of reading"—an evidence-based approach emphasizing phonics, vocabulary, and structured literacy instruction while explicitly banning outdated "three-cueing" methods that rely on picture and context guessing. The bill reauthorizes and expands the Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grants program, directing at least 75 percent of state grant funds to local school districts for teacher training, literacy coaching, high-quality instructional materials, universal reading screenings (including for dyslexia), and tutoring programs, with priority funding for states with the lowest reading proficiency scores. It affects public school students from birth through 12th grade, teachers and teacher-preparation programs, state education agencies, and parents, who will now receive mandatory notifications within 30 days if their child is identified as at risk for reading difficulties or below grade level. The legislation also strengthens federal research infrastructure by directing the Institute of Education Sciences to study reading instruction methods and requires the Department of Education to publish detailed state-by-state literacy performance reports based on National Assessment of Educational Progress data. Funding is authorized for fiscal years 2026 through 2035, with specific reservations for tribal schools, U.S. territories, and independent program evaluations, while the bill explicitly prohibits the federal government from mandating specific curricula or instructional content at the state or local level.
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