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Improving America's Literacy Act

USA119th CongressS-5110| Senate 
| Updated: 7/23/2026
Ted Cruz

Ted Cruz

Republican Senator

Texas

Cosponsors (1)
Brian Schatz (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill modifies the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to strengthen literacy instruction and improve student outcomes. A key provision explicitly defines and prohibits the use of the three-cueing model , an instructional approach that relies on context, pictures, or syntax as the primary basis for word recognition, in literacy activities funded by federal grants. For Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grants, the bill requires recipients to use evidence-based activities and implement instructional strategies that focus on phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension . These grants will be awarded for up to five years, with a potential two-year renewal, and the Secretary of Education must conduct annual reviews of their impact on student literacy outcomes, making these findings publicly available. Similarly, School Improvement Grants will now mandate that literacy activities funded through them are evidence-based and utilize instructional strategies centered on the core components of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. This ensures a consistent, scientifically-backed approach to literacy across different federal funding streams. The legislation also directs the Institute of Education Sciences to conduct research identifying State and local strategies associated with significant improvements in student literacy outcomes, examining instructional practices, curricular materials, and professional development. Findings from this research must be reported to Congress and publicly disseminated within five years. Importantly, the bill clarifies that it does not limit existing disability rights or authorize federal control over specific instructional content or curricula.
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Timeline
Jul 23, 2026
Introduced in Senate
Jul 23, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  • July 23, 2026
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 23, 2026
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Education

Improving America's Literacy Act

USA119th CongressS-5110| Senate 
| Updated: 7/23/2026
This bill modifies the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to strengthen literacy instruction and improve student outcomes. A key provision explicitly defines and prohibits the use of the three-cueing model , an instructional approach that relies on context, pictures, or syntax as the primary basis for word recognition, in literacy activities funded by federal grants. For Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grants, the bill requires recipients to use evidence-based activities and implement instructional strategies that focus on phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension . These grants will be awarded for up to five years, with a potential two-year renewal, and the Secretary of Education must conduct annual reviews of their impact on student literacy outcomes, making these findings publicly available. Similarly, School Improvement Grants will now mandate that literacy activities funded through them are evidence-based and utilize instructional strategies centered on the core components of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. This ensures a consistent, scientifically-backed approach to literacy across different federal funding streams. The legislation also directs the Institute of Education Sciences to conduct research identifying State and local strategies associated with significant improvements in student literacy outcomes, examining instructional practices, curricular materials, and professional development. Findings from this research must be reported to Congress and publicly disseminated within five years. Importantly, the bill clarifies that it does not limit existing disability rights or authorize federal control over specific instructional content or curricula.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jul 23, 2026
Introduced in Senate
Jul 23, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  • July 23, 2026
    Introduced in Senate


  • July 23, 2026
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Ted Cruz

Ted Cruz

Republican Senator

Texas

Cosponsors (1)
Brian Schatz (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Education

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted