Kelly, Cassidy, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Child Literacy

Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jim Banks (R-IN), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Tim Scott (R-SC) introduced the bipartisan Reading Excellence and Achievement for Development (READ) Act to improve all children's ability to read.

The legislation is a part of Kelly's efforts to protect public education for all students, no matter what zip code they live in. Earlier this year, Kelly introduced the Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act after warning the country about Arizona's costly and unaccountable private school voucher program.

"I am the product of a good public education, and every kid deserves that. If we want our kids to get ahead, we need to invest in the teachers, parents, and schools helping them get there," said Kelly. "This bill is a step towards every kid having an opportunity to succeed, whether they want to join the military, go into public service, or just a build a good life."

"Capable students are dropping out of high school simply because they were never taught how to read. Children with dyslexia are extremely bright, but without early testing and proper resources, they are being left behind," said Cassidy. "Let's learn from states like Louisiana and implement proven reforms so every child has the power to read and reach their full potential."

"In the greatest country in the world, we cannot resign ourselves to the fact that many children still struggle to read at grade level and that only one in three students leave high school as proficient readers," said Hassan. "This bipartisan bill will build on the extensive research that shows how students learn to read most effectively and will help make those tools available for teachers to use in their classrooms. We must come together to prioritize our children's success, and I urge my colleagues to work with me on this bipartisan effort."

"There's no skill more fundamental than reading," said Hickenlooper. "Literacy programs are some of the best investments we can make for kids, and for Colorado's future."

"Literacy is one of the most valuable tools in life we can give students, but our nation is seeing a decline in reading outcomes," said Scott. "The READ Act strengthens federal literacy grants and helps our education system return to proven, evidence-based reading practices, which is especially important for kids growing up in low-income communities like I did. This bill is about making sure our youth have the high-quality education they deserve to succeed in life and unlock their God-given potential."

Background:

The Reading Excellence and Achievement for Development (READ) Act aims to address declining literacy rates by strengthening evidence-based literacy instruction, requiring early literacy screening, and empowering states, local communities and parents with more available resources.

Click here to read the full text of the bill. Click here to read the one-pager and here for a section-by-section.