Senate Committee Advances Federal 'Science of Reading' Bill to Boost Literacy Efforts
Two significant bills aimed at enhancing federal involvement in reading instruction have passed out of a Senate committee, reflecting Congress's growing interest in the 'science of reading' movement. The bipartisan READ Act proposes new requirements on federal literacy grants to support early screening for reading difficulties and evidence-based instruction, while the 21st Century Dyslexia Act seeks to reclassify dyslexia under federal disability law. The READ Act, co-sponsored by Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and led by committee Chair Bill Cassidy, R-La., aims to shift funding to states with the lowest reading scores and has garnered support from over 100 national and local reading advocacy groups. The 21st Century Dyslexia Act, however, faced more debate, passing by a narrower margin. It proposes to define dyslexia as a separate category, which has sparked opposition from major disability research and advocacy groups. 
