Sen. Scott joins Sens. Cassidy and Hassan in introducing historic bill to improve child literacy

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) joined Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) in cosponsoring the Reading Excellence and Achievement for Development (READ) Act to improve all children’s ability to read, empowering them to achieve the American Dream. This legislation aims to address the national literacy crisis by strengthening evidence-based literacy instruction, requiring early literacy screening, and empowering states, local communities, and parents with more resources. “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 Sen. 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.” “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 Dr. 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 Sen. 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.” U.S. Senators Jim Banks (R-Ind.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) joined in introducing the READ Act. Background: Low literacy rates have significant economic consequences, costing taxpayers an estimated $224 billion annually and resulting in nearly $40 billion in lost productivity for American businesses. States that have adopted evidence-based literacy practices aligned with the science of reading have shown strong results. Mississippi, for example, rose from 49th in the nation to the top 10 in fourth-grade reading achievement after implementing comprehensive literacy reforms. Building on this success, 44 states and the District of Columbia have enacted science of reading-related laws, demonstrating broad bipartisan momentum to improve literacy outcomes for students. The READ Act would: Support evidence-based reading instruction rooted in the science of reading Require early literacy and dyslexia screening to identify struggling readers sooner Help states strengthen literacy programs, teacher training, and student support systems Read the full bill text here . Read the full section-by-section here . ###