Right to Read Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Introduced
Summary
The Right to Read would establish a federal guarantee that students get evidence-based reading instruction and effective school libraries, and it would expand information and digital literacy across K–12.
Show full summary
- Students and families would gain a defined “right to read” that covers evidence-based reading instruction, family literacy supports, culturally diverse materials, and home reading materials.
- School librarians and library staff would be treated as teachers for planning and accountability, with new funding to recruit, hire, and train them and to expand library services. The bill would authorize about $600 million per year for five years in literacy grants to support those efforts.
- State and local education agencies would have to address library access gaps in Title I and II plans, report on equitable access, and the National Center for Education Statistics would collect school library data every two years.
*Would authorize roughly $600 million per year for five years, about $3.0 billion total, increasing federal spending by that amount.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New federal grants for literacy
If enacted, the government would authorize $500 million per year and $100 million per year for FY2026–FY2030. These grants would fund hiring and retaining State‑certified school librarians and expand library services in high‑need schools. State library agencies would be required planning partners and could receive technical assistance funding. Early literacy subgrants would formally include State library agencies.
Stronger school library standards
If enacted, the bill would define an "effective school library" and require at least one full‑time State‑certified school librarian. It would define "information literacy" as skills to find, evaluate, and use information across media. It would create a statutory "right to read" covering instruction, diverse materials, and family supports. The Secretary would require NCES to collect school library data every two years and report to Congress.
New state and district library rules
If enacted, States and LEAs would have to include library support and right‑to‑read policies in Title I and LEA plans. States would need to publish measures to track whether underserved students lack effective libraries. The bill would allow State formula and local Title II and Title IV funds to pay for hiring librarians, training, digital literacy, and library services. The statutory definition of "teacher" would explicitly include school librarians.
Library legal protections and rules
If enacted, the Secretary would require States and LEAs receiving funds to assure protection of students' First Amendment and equal‑protection rights in school libraries. Agencies would need to promise access to a variety of reading materials to get funds. The bill would also protect school staff from liability when they act in conformity with State or local right‑to‑read policies. These legal conditions would affect how schools manage collections and staff actions.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Reed, Jack [D-RI]
RI • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
ME • I
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov