As reported by The 74, on March 17, 2026 legislation passed unanimously by the U.S. House Education committee would require states that receive federal literacy grants to follow the science of reading. The unanimous bipartisan vote is a sign that improving reading outcomes is a goal shared by both Republicans and Democrats.
The bill defines the science of reading as instruction that teaches phonics and phonemic awareness, and also builds vocabulary, fluency, comprehension and writing skills. The legislation would prohibit grantees from allowing three-cueing, the practice of prompting students to identify words based on pictures or other clues in a sentence. The bill now moves to the full House.
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