SYRACUSE, N.Y., July 30, 2026 — The Reading League (TRL) commends the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) for its bipartisan vote advancing the Reading Excellence and Achievement for Development (READ) Act out of committee.
The READ Act prioritizes evidence-aligned reading instruction by codifying the science of reading into federal law and strengthening Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) grants. Codifying this language in federal law will help strengthen K-12 assessment, instruction, and coaching, as well as alignment with educator preparation programs nationwide. In addition, the bill addresses critical alignment between high-quality instructional materials and the scientific evidence on how students learn to read, while discouraging unproven practices such as three-cueing for primary decoding.
While TRL applauds the passage of the READ Act, the organization maintains caution regarding the 21st Century Dyslexia Act, which also advanced out of committee today. The Reading League has joined the National Center for Learning Disabilities in opposing this bill in its current form, given its reliance on an outdated, discrepancy-based definition of dyslexia. TRL is also concerned that removing dyslexia from the Specific Learning Disability (SLD) category, without careful consideration, could unintentionally disrupt identification and service delivery systems that states have built. While the intent of the legislation is to improve support for students with dyslexia, significant changes to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) should strengthen—not dismantle—the protections, screening processes, and intervention structures that many states have already implemented to better serve students.
As Congress continues consideration of this legislation, The Reading League encourages lawmakers to work alongside researchers, state education leaders, practitioners, and dyslexia experts to ensure that any final policy reflects current scientific knowledge while supporting practical, effective implementation for schools and states.
Decades of scientific research have made clear how children learn to read and why some experience difficulty. As federal legislation continues to move forward, implementation efforts must remain grounded in rigorous evidence and informed by the state leaders and practitioners executing this work in classrooms daily.
The Reading League works alongside educators, school systems, and state leaders nationwide to support the implementation of evidence-aligned reading instruction. TRL remains committed to serving as a trusted resource for policymakers and educators working to ensure every child has the opportunity to become a skilled reader.
About The Reading League
Celebrating a decade of impact, The Reading League is a global education nonprofit, advancing evidence-aligned reading instruction through advocacy, professional learning, research, and a growing network of 46 chapters. The Reading League’s work is grounded in the science of reading—decades of research revealing how the brain learns to read and which instructional practices are most effective. The Reading League believes that all children deserve to learn to read, and all educators deserve the knowledge to make it possible. For more information, please visit thereadingleague.org.
