Literacy Improvement for Transformation Act of 2026

In this Act:

(1) ESEA Terms. The terms elementary school, evidence-based, institution of higher education, local educational agency, secondary school, and State educational agency have the meanings given those terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

(2) IDEA Terms. The terms child with a disability, individualized education program or IEP, and specific learning disability have the meanings given those terms in section 602 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1401).

(3) Eligible entity. The term eligible entity means—

(A) a local educational agency;

(B) a partnership between a State educational agency and one or more local educational agencies in the State, entered into for the purposes of a grant under this Act;

(C) a nonprofit entity with expertise in structured literacy approaches (including multisensory structured language education), reading intervention, or specific learning disabilities (including dyslexia), in partnership with a State educational agency or one or more local educational agencies;

(D) a school operated by the Bureau of Indian Education or operated by an Indian Tribe, or an organization controlled or sanctioned by an Indian Tribal government, for the children of that Tribe under a contract with, or grant from, the Department of the Interior under the Indian Self-Determination Act (25 U.S.C. 5321 et seq.) or the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988 (25 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.); or

(E) an institution of higher education (including a Tribal College or University (as defined in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)))) in partnership with a State educational agency or one or more local educational agencies.

(4) High-need local educational agency. The term high-need local educational agency has the meaning given such term in section 200 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1021).

(5) Licensed professional. The term licensed professional means a psychologist, speech- language pathologist, neuropsychologist, or pediatrician that is licensed by the State to practice in the applicable field.

(6) Reading or literacy specialist. The term reading or literacy specialist means a certified professional—

(A) whose primary responsibility is working with students who struggle with reading and writing, including students with dyslexia;

(B) who—

(i) has completed a certification or training course in literacy (which may include a certification or course that meets accreditation standards described by the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council); and

(ii) is able to demonstrate the ability to implement intervention strategies using structured literacy approaches, including multisensory structured language programs, to improve reading proficiency and literacy skills; and

(C) who may also be referred to as an interventionist, a reading teacher, a reading specialist, or by an alternative title.

(7) Section 504 Plan. The term section 504 plan means a reasonable accommodation developed for students with disabilities to receive the appropriate educational support services to fully participate in school activities and have equal access to educational opportunities, in accordance with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794).

(8) Secretary. The term Secretary means the Secretary of Education.