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Title 20, EducationRelease 119-110

§6641 Purposes; Definitions

Title 20 › CHAPTER 70 — STRENGTHENING AND IMPROVEMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS › SUBCHAPTER II — PREPARING, TRAINING, AND RECRUITING HIGH-QUALITY TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, OR OTHER SCHOOL LEADERS › Part B — National Activities › subpart 2 — literacy education for all, results for the nation › § 6641

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Provides federal money to states so they can make or update statewide plans that improve reading and writing from early education through grade 12. States must also give targeted subgrants to early childhood programs and school districts (and their public or private partners) to run proven literacy programs for the students who need the most help. Comprehensive literacy instruction — teaching that builds reading and writing skills across subjects and ages, including phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, writing practice, varied texts, small-group work, assessment, motivation, and teacher collaboration. Eligible entity — a school district serving many high-need schools, an early childhood program serving low-income or disadvantaged children with a strong record, or a district/program working with public or private partners that have proven success in improving literacy and training teachers. High-need school — an elementary or middle school with at least 50% low-income students, or a high school with at least 40% low-income students (feeder school data may be used). Low-income family — children who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, live in a family getting TANF, or are eligible for Medicaid.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §6641

Education, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Purposes
The purposes of this subpart are—
(1)to improve student academic achievement in reading and writing by providing Federal support to States to develop, revise, or update comprehensive literacy instruction plans that, when implemented, ensure high-quality instruction and effective strategies in reading and writing from early education through grade 12; and
(2)for States to provide targeted subgrants to early childhood education programs and local educational agencies and their public or private partners to implement evidence-based programs that ensure high-quality comprehensive literacy instruction for students most in need.
(b)Definitions
In this subpart:
(1)Comprehensive literacy instruction
The term “comprehensive literacy instruction” means instruction that—
(A)includes developmentally appropriate, contextually explicit, and systematic instruction, and frequent practice, in reading and writing across content areas;
(B)includes age-appropriate, explicit, systematic, and intentional instruction in phonological awareness, phonic decoding, vocabulary, language structure, reading fluency, and reading comprehension;
(C)includes age-appropriate, explicit instruction in writing, including opportunities for children to write with clear purposes, with critical reasoning appropriate to the topic and purpose, and with specific instruction and feedback from instructional staff;
(D)makes available and uses diverse, high-quality print materials that reflect the reading and development levels, and interests, of children;
(E)uses differentiated instructional approaches, including individual and small group instruction and discussion;
(F)provides opportunities for children to use language with peers and adults in order to develop language skills, including developing vocabulary;
(G)includes frequent practice of reading and writing strategies;
(H)uses age-appropriate, valid, and reliable screening assessments, diagnostic assessments, formative assessment processes, and summative assessments to identify a child’s learning needs, to inform instruction, and to monitor the child’s progress and the effects of instruction;
(I)uses strategies to enhance children’s motivation to read and write and children’s engagement in self-directed learning;
(J)incorporates the principles of universal design for learning;
(K)depends on teachers’ collaboration in planning, instruction, and assessing a child’s progress and on continuous professional learning; and
(L)links literacy instruction to the challenging State academic standards, including the ability to navigate, understand, and write about, complex print and digital subject matter.
(2)Eligible entity
The term “eligible entity” means an entity that consists of— (A)
(B)one or more early childhood education programs serving low-income or otherwise disadvantaged children, which may include home-based literacy programs for preschool-aged children, that have a demonstrated record of providing comprehensive literacy instruction for the age group such program proposes to serve; or
(C)a local educational agency, described in subparagraph (A), or consortium of such local educational agencies, or an early childhood education program, which may include home-based literacy programs for preschool-aged children, acting in partnership with 1 or more public or private nonprofit organizations or agencies (which may include early childhood education programs) that have a demonstrated record of effectiveness in—
(i)improving literacy achievement of children, consistent with the purposes of participation under this subpart, from birth through grade 12; and
(ii)providing professional development in comprehensive literacy instruction.
(3)High-need school
(A)In general
The term “high-need school” means—
(i)an elementary school or middle school in which not less than 50 percent of the enrolled students are children from low-income families; or
(ii)a high school in which not less than 40 percent of the enrolled students are children from low-income families, which may be calculated using comparable data from the schools that feed into the high school.
(B)Low-income family
For purposes of subparagraph (A), the term “low-income family” means a family—
(i)in which the children are eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.);
(ii)receiving assistance under the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families established under part A of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 601 et seq.); or
(iii)in which the children are eligible to receive medical assistance under the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(B)(i), is act June 4, 1946, ch. 281, 60 Stat. 230, which is classified generally to chapter 13 (§ 1751 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1751 of Title 42 and Tables. The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(3)(B)(ii), (iii), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620. Part A of title IV of the Act is classified generally to part A (§ 601 et seq.) of subchapter IV of chapter 7 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. Title XIX of the Act is classified generally to subchapter XIX (§ 1396 et seq.) of chapter 7 of Title 42. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of Title 42 and Tables.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 6641, Pub. L. 89–10, title II, § 2141, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title II, § 201, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1634, related to technical assistance and accountability, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 114–95, § 5, title II, § 2002, Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1806, 1913, effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs. Another prior section 6641, Pub. L. 89–10, title II, § 2201, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, § 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3621, authorized program for State and local professional development activities, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 107–110.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as an

Effective Date

of 2015 Amendment note under section 6301 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 6641

Title 20, Education

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110