Science of Reading Act of 2026

The Science of Reading Act of 2026 would amend federal education law to align literacy instruction funding with evidence-based reading methods. The bill defines the science of reading as an interdisciplinary body of research that emphasizes instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and writing as essential components of skilled reading. It would require states applying for federal comprehensive literacy development grants to describe how their literacy instruction plans align with this science of reading approach. The bill would also prioritize federal funding for literacy programs that use these evidence-based methods from early childhood through grade 12. Additionally, the legislation would discourage the use of the three-cueing model, an instructional approach that relies on context, pictures, or syntax as the primary basis for teaching word recognition. The bill includes protections to ensure it does not alter rights and requirements under disability education laws, and it clarifies that the federal government will not dictate instructional content or academic standards to states and localities beyond this framework.