The Literacy Improvement for Transformation Act of 2026 establishes a federal grant program to help schools hire and retain reading and literacy specialists. The Department of Education will award five-year competitive grants to school districts, nonprofits, colleges, and tribal organizations to ensure every elementary and secondary school has at least one full-time certified reading or literacy specialist on staff. Grant funds can be used to recruit and hire specialists, convert part-time positions to full-time, increase salaries for retention, support professional development, and fund teacher certification programs in evidence-based literacy instruction. Priority for funding goes to schools in states with lower reading proficiency rates on national assessments, particularly those serving high-poverty districts and focusing on early intervention in kindergarten through third grade. Recipients must report annually on their progress hiring specialists and improving student reading outcomes.