The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 7890, the 'Science of Reading Act of 2026,' on September 16, 2026, amending the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to exclude three-cueing instruction from the $194 million Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) grant program. The bill requires the Department of Education and state agencies to prioritize science-of-reading-aligned activities in future grants.
The bill, introduced March 12, 2026 by Rep. Houchin with cosponsors Mannion and Kiley of California and later joined by Ms. Foxx, cleared the House Committee on Education and Workforce on June 29, 2026. It applies to all CLSD funds awarded on or after enactment, potentially affecting all 23 current grant recipients.
The legislation defines 'science of reading' in federal law as 'an interdisciplinary body of evidence-based research about reading and issues related to reading and writing' that identifies phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and writing as essential components, and that 'does not use a three-cueing model.' The bill defines 'three-cueing model' as an approach that uses meaning drawn from context, pictures, or syntax as the primary basis for teaching word recognition, commonly referred to as MSV, or that teaches visual memory as the primary basis for word recognition.
The House bill also amends state application requirements to include a description of the extent to which the state's comprehensive literacy instruction plan aligns with the science of reading. It includes rules of construction stating that nothing in the Act limits IDEA, Section 504, or ADA rights, or authorizes any federal officer to mandate, direct, or control a state or school's specific instructional content, standards, curricula, or program of instruction.
Senate counterpart takes a broader approach
The Senate took a more expansive path. The READ Act, S. 4689, introduced June 4, 2026 by Sen. Cassidy with cosponsors Hassan, Banks, Hickenlooper, Scott of SC, and Kelly, passed the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on July 30, 2026 on a 20-2 bipartisan vote and now heads to the full Senate floor.
The Senate bill requires all states receiving CLSD funds to provide early literacy screening at least once before third grade, notify parents of children at risk for reading difficulties, evaluate teacher-preparation programs for alignment with evidence-based approaches, and set aside 10 percent of total grant funding for states with the lowest 4th grade NAEP reading scores. It also encourages investment in high-quality instructional materials, teacher coaching, tutoring, and summer learning programs.
The Senate READ Act's definition of 'science of reading' differs slightly from the House version, drawing more specifically from 'cognitive science, neuroscience, and education' and adding that the science of reading 'is inclusive of comprehensive literacy instruction.' The Senate bill also includes findings citing the 2024 NAEP, which reported only 35% of 8th graders were proficient in reading and one-third performed below the basic level, the highest percentage ever recorded.
State momentum behind the federal bills
The federal actions extend a movement that has primarily been led at the state level. Since 2020, more than 40 states have passed legislation requiring or encouraging schools to use evidence-backed practices aligned to the science of reading. Both the House and Senate bills explicitly draw on this state momentum, codifying similar definitions and prohibitions, including three-cueing bans, that many state laws already contain.
What research shows about reading proficiency
The 2024 NAEP reported that only 35 percent of 8th graders were proficient in reading, and one-third performed below the basic level, the highest percentage ever recorded. These findings are cited in the Senate READ Act's congressional findings section as evidence of a national literacy crisis motivating federal legislative action.
A report covered by The 74 Million found that nearly a third of teachers still used methods including three-cueing, which the report described as discredited, to teach reading and were not fully committed to the science of reading. This provides context for why both House and Senate bills seek to restrict federal funds from supporting three-cueing approaches.
Reconciliation ahead
The House bill must now be reconciled with the more expansive Senate READ Act. The final legislation will determine whether it includes the Senate's additional mandates for early screening, teacher-preparation audits, and a funding set-aside for the lowest-performing states. The House bill, H.R. 7890, is the version that passed the full House; a separate, more comprehensive House bill, H.R. 10031, was introduced August 3, 2026 by Rep. McBath with cosponsors Houchin, Bonamici, Kiley, Harder, and Owens, and more closely mirrors the Senate READ Act. That bill has not advanced.