Improving America's Literacy Act
Sponsored By: Senator Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced
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.
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- 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.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Federal study of successful reading programs
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 definition. The Director would report to Congress within five years. Findings would be shared through regional educational labs and posted on the Education Department website.
Stricter literacy funding rules for schools
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 report on student reading results, grant recipients by location, and strategies used. States would only fund evidence-based literacy activities that emphasize phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Programs that use a three-cueing model would be ineligible. States must get assurances from districts that school improvement funds follow these literacy rules.
Keeps disability rights and local control
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 schools. Existing disability protections and local control would remain in place.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
TX • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 7/23/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov