Empowering Young Readers Act of 2026

This bill directs the Secretary of Education to establish a pilot program within 180 days of enactment, awarding competitive grants to eligible nongovernmental and nonprofit organizations. These grants, limited to $200,000 for a two-year period, are intended to enhance book access for children through various activities. Congress authorizes $10,000,000 for appropriations in fiscal year 2026 to fund this initiative. Grant funds will support activities such as purchasing and distributing new or used books directly to children, donating books to public libraries, and hosting literacy-related programming like book fairs and story times. Applying organizations must provide a strategic plan detailing how funds will address community needs, along with past work and community support, with the Secretary ensuring viewpoint-neutral criteria for review. A final report to Congress will include qualitative data on activities and, if available, information on changes in child literacy rates in served communities.