Gila Herald Staff Reports
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) has teamed up with a bipartisan group of colleagues to introduce new legislation aimed at reversing a nationwide decline in reading outcomes and safeguarding public education for all students.
The Reading Excellence and Achievement for Development (READ) Act was introduced alongside Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jim Banks (R-IN), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Tim Scott (R-SC). The bill targets falling literacy rates by revamping how reading is taught and monitored in American classrooms.
Reforming Reading Instruction
The READ Act seeks to overhaul literacy education by implementing structured, evidence-based practices and ensuring communities have the tools necessary to help struggling readers early in their development.
According to bill sponsors, the legislation focuses on three main pillars:
- Evidence-Based Instruction: Strengthening federal literacy grants to steer school systems back toward proven, research-backed reading methods.
- Early Screening: Mandating early literacy screening to catch learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, before students fall too far behind.
- Community Empowerment: Providing states, local communities, and parents with expanded resources to support children’s literacy development.
Lawmakers Push for Equal Opportunity
For Senator Kelly, the bill is an extension of his ongoing legislative focus on strengthening the public school system. Earlier this year, Kelly introduced the Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act in response to criticisms of Arizona’s private school voucher program.
“I am the product of a good public education, and every kid deserves that,” Kelly said. “If we want our kids to get ahead, we need to invest in the teachers, parents, and schools helping them get there. 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 build a good life.”
Other co-sponsors highlighted the severe long-term impacts that a lack of reading proficiency can have on a student’s future.
“Capable students are dropping out of high school simply because they were never taught how to read,” noted Dr. Cassidy. “Children with dyslexia are extremely bright, but without early testing and proper resources, they are being left behind.”
Senator Hassan pointed to alarming data regarding current high school graduates, stating that “only one in three students leave high school as proficient readers,” calling on Congress to prioritize tools that bring student literacy back to grade level.
Senator Scott emphasized the profound impact the bill could have on lower-income areas. “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,” Scott said.
What’s Next
The bipartisan coalition is now urging the rest of their Senate colleagues to advance the READ Act, framing it as a critical investment in the country’s economic and educational future.
