# 119-s-5110: Improving America's Literacy Act

119-s-5110, Improving America's Literacy Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] (R-TX); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-08).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5110
- As of: 2026-08-08
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-5110
- Congress: 119
- Title: Improving America's Literacy Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-07-23
- Sponsor: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX] (R-TX)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Education
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-08-08

## Summary

**Evidence-based reading instruction** is the bill's central aim. This bill would add targeted literacy rules to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, ban the three-cueing model, create time-limited state grant programs, require annual public reporting, and direct federal research into effective reading strategies. - Students and families: Schools would focus instruction on phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension to improve reading outcomes. - Teachers and schools: Grants would require use of evidence-based materials and instructional strategies and bar the three-cueing model. Funds may support professional development and classroom materials that meet the statute's evidence definition. - State agencies and grants: State educational agencies would get Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grants limited to 5 years with a possible 2-year renewal if adequate progress is shown. SEAs must conduct annual reviews and publicly report impacts, recipients, and activities. - Research and dissemination: The Institute of Education Sciences would study state and local practices tied to large literacy gains and report findings to Congress within 5 years. Results must be shared through regional educational laboratories and posted on the Department of Education website.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] (D-HI), 2026-07-23T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Federal study of successful reading programs: benefit, medium. This bill would direct the Institute of Education Sciences to study state and local strategies tied to sustained reading gains. The study would examine practices, materials, teacher training, and policy supports. The Director would assess whether identified strategies meet the law's evidence-based…
- Keeps disability rights and local control: benefit, low. This bill would say nothing in it changes rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, section 504, or the Americans with Disabilities Act. It would also say federal officials would not be authorized to mandate specific curricula, standards, tests, or instruction for states or scho…
- Stricter literacy funding rules for schools: mixed, medium. This bill would change federal literacy grants for states and districts. State grants would be limited to five years. A single two-year renewal would be allowed if the State shows adequate progress and still needs funds. The Education Department would review each grantee every year and publish a re…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
- 119-s-524: Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025
- 119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026
- 119-s-306: Fire Ready Nation Act of 2025
- 119-s-4668: Protect College Sports Act of 2026
- 119-s-2975: PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-5110 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5110)

## Related
- [119-s-1071: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1071)
- [119-s-524: Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-524)
- [119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3923)
- [119-s-306: Fire Ready Nation Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-306)
- [119-s-4668: Protect College Sports Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4668)
- [119-s-2975: PIPELINE Safety Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2975)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5110 (as of 2026-08-08).