H.R. 7890

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7890 Reported in House (RH)]

<DOC>

Union Calendar No. 623
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7890

[Report No. 119-717]

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to exclude 
certain instructional approaches from comprehensive literacy 
instruction, to prioritize certain funds to promote the use of 
evidence-based literacy instruction and supports aligned to the science 
of reading, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 12, 2026

Mrs. Houchin (for herself, Mr. Mannion, and Mr. Kiley of California) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Education and Workforce

June 29, 2026

Additional sponsor: Ms. Foxx

June 29, 2026

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on March 
12, 2026]

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to exclude 
certain instructional approaches from comprehensive literacy 
instruction, to prioritize certain funds to promote the use of 
evidence-based literacy instruction and supports aligned to the science 
of reading, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Science of Reading Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. PROMOTING READING INSTRUCTION ALIGNED TO THE SCIENCE OF 
READING.

(a) Comprehensive Literacy Instruction.--Section 2221(b) of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6641(b)) is 
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in subparagraph (K), by striking ``; and'' and 
inserting a semicolon;
(B) in subparagraph (L), by striking the period and 
inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(M) does not include the use of a three-cueing 
model.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Science of reading.--The term `science of reading' 
means an interdisciplinary body of evidence-based research 
about reading and issues related to reading and writing that--
``(A) identifies instruction in phonemic awareness, 
phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and 
writing as essential components to skilled reading;
``(B) demonstrates the importance of background 
knowledge, oral language, the connection between 
reading and writing, and strong writing instruction;
``(C) explains why some students have difficulty 
with reading and writing; and
``(D) does not use a three-cueing model.
``(5) Three-cueing model.--The term `three-cueing model' 
means an instructional approach or model that--
``(A) uses meaning drawn from context, pictures, or 
syntax as the primary basis for teaching word 
recognition (commonly referred to as `meaning, 
structure and syntax, and visual cues' or `MSV'); or
``(B) teaches visual memory as the primary basis 
for word recognition.''.
(b) State Applications for Comprehensive Literacy State Development 
Grants.--Section 2222(d)(2) of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6642(d)(2)) is amended by inserting at the end--
``(F) A description of the extent to which the 
State comprehensive literacy instruction plan is 
aligned to the science of reading.''.
(c) Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grant Priority.--
Section 2222(e) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 6642(e)) is amended by striking the period at the end and 
inserting ``, that are aligned to the science of reading.''.
(d) Comprehensive Literacy State Development Subgrant Priority.--
(1) Birth through kindergarten entry.--Section 2223(c) of 
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
6643(c)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``grants'' and inserting 
``subgrants'';
(B) by striking ``grant'' and inserting 
``subgrant''; and
(C) by striking the period at the end and inserting 
``, that are aligned to the science of reading.''.
(2) Kindergarten through grade 12.--Section 2224(b) of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
6644(b)) is amended--
(A) by striking ``grants'' and inserting 
``subgrants''; and
(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting 
``that are aligned to the science of reading.''.

SEC. 3. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

(a) Applicability.--This Act and the amendments made by this Act 
shall apply with respect to funds awarded under the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 note et seq.) on or 
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) Rules of Construction.--Nothing in this Act or the amendments 
made by this Act shall be construed to--
(1) limit or alter the rights, protections, and 
individualized instructional requirements under the Individuals 
with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), 
section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), 
or the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 12101 et 
seq.); or
(2) authorize any officer or employee of the Federal 
Government to mandate, direct, or control a State, local 
educational agency, or school's specific instructional content, 
academic standards and assessments, curricula, or program of 
instruction.
Union Calendar No. 623

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7890

[Report No. 119-717]

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to exclude 
certain instructional approaches from comprehensive literacy 
instruction, to prioritize certain funds to promote the use of 
evidence-based literacy instruction and supports aligned to the science 
of reading, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

June 29, 2026

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed