READ Act

The Restarting Education After Disasters Act, or the READ Act , authorizes the Secretary of Education to make payments to State educational agencies (SEAs) to provide immediate services and assistance. These funds are directed towards local educational agencies (LEAs) and non-public schools serving areas where a major disaster or emergency has been declared. Priority for funding is given to schools that were closed for 30 or more days due to the disaster, and the amount considers the number of students enrolled in affected schools. State educational agencies must ensure that services and assistance provided to eligible non-public school students are equitable compared to those offered to public school students. Funds can be used for various purposes, including the recovery of student and personnel data, replacement of information systems, reasonable transportation costs, rental of mobile educational units, initial replacement of instructional materials, and minor facility repairs. However, funds cannot be used for construction or major renovation, and all services and materials must be secular, neutral, and nonideological . The bill authorizes an appropriation of $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out its provisions.