Right to Read Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6440
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-04: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-10T08:07:25Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Right to Read Act of 2025 aims to guarantee that all students in U.S. public schools have equitable access to reading resources and instruction. It emphasizes building effective school libraries, promoting literacy skills (including digital and information literacy), and protecting students' rights to diverse reading materials, while addressing disparities in access for low-income, minority, disabled, and English learner students.
Key Provisions
- New Definitions Added to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA):
- Defines an "effective school library" as one staffed by certified librarians who act as instructional leaders, support digital and inquiry-based learning, and provide access to up-to-date print, digital, and open-licensed materials. Libraries must be open extended hours, offer training for educators, and follow professional standards.
- Introduces "information literacy" as the skills to find, evaluate, and use various forms of information (e.g., print, digital, videos).
- Establishes the "right to read" as access to age-appropriate reading instruction, effective libraries, family literacy support, diverse and inclusive materials, home reading resources, and freedom to choose what to read.
- Expands the definition of "teacher" to explicitly include school librarians.
- Amendments to ESEA Title I (Standards and Accountability):
- Requires state plans to ensure equitable access to effective school libraries for underserved students, with public reporting on progress, and to include digital and information literacy in academic standards.
- Mandates state policies on the right to read, with notifications to schools, educators, parents, and the public.
- Local education agency (LEA) plans must support school librarians, develop effective libraries to build literacy skills, and outline policies protecting the right to read.
- Amendments to ESEA Title II (Effective Instruction and Teacher Support):
- Authorizes $500 million annually (FY 2026–2030) for Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grants to improve literacy from birth through grade 12, including school libraries and diverse materials.
- Authorizes $100 million annually (FY 2026–2030) for Innovative Approaches to Literacy grants, prioritizing hiring certified librarians in high-need schools.
- Expands formula grants to states for recruiting, training, and retaining school librarians; supporting library collaborations; and promoting literacy skills.
- Local uses of funds can include library programs for digital literacy, student inquiry, and family engagement.
- Includes state library agencies in grant planning and technical assistance for libraries.
- Amendments to ESEA Title IV (Safe and Supportive Schools):
- Allows funding for digital and information literacy programs through school libraries.
- Supports well-rounded education activities, such as library-based programs to develop these skills.
- Data Collection and Reporting:
- Directs the Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics to collect biennial data on school libraries, including staffing (e.g., certified librarians), facilities, collections (print/digital), devices, and time spent on instruction/planning.
- Requires reports to Congress every two years starting one year after enactment, with funding authorized as needed.
- Liability Protections:
- Shields teachers, librarians, school leaders, and staff from legal liability for actions or omissions that follow state or local right-to-read policies (e.g., providing access to materials).
- Protection of Constitutional Rights in School Libraries:
- Requires states and LEAs receiving ESEA funds to assure protection of students' First Amendment rights (freedom of speech and access to information) by providing diverse materials, avoiding partisan restrictions, and recognizing libraries as centers for voluntary inquiry.
- Ensures equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment and nondiscrimination laws in library operations.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands ESEA Definitions and Roles: Integrates school librarians into teacher definitions and elevates libraries as core to literacy, which was previously underrepresented.
- New Funding Streams: Shifts literacy grants from reservations to direct appropriations, increasing dedicated funds for libraries and librarians (previously limited or indirect).
- Mandates Policies and Oversight: Introduces required state/LEA policies on the right to read and equitable library access, with data collection—absent in prior law—to monitor disparities.
- Liability and Constitutional Assurances: Adds specific protections for educators and ties funding to First/Fourteenth Amendment compliance, preempting conflicting state laws except for these new provisions.
- Streamlines Titles: Removes or redesignates outdated paragraphs/subparts in Titles I, II, and IV to prioritize library and literacy supports.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Education gains responsibilities for data collection, grant administration, and enforcing assurances, potentially increasing administrative workload but improving national oversight of school resources. State and local education agencies must update plans and policies, with possible funding boosts for compliance.
- On Citizens: Students, particularly in underserved communities, could gain better access to diverse, up-to-date reading materials and skilled librarians, enhancing literacy, academic achievement, and lifelong learning. Parents and families benefit from literacy supports and notifications about reading rights. Educators receive training and legal protections, reducing risks in providing materials.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts; the bill focuses on domestic K-12 education.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Students: Primary beneficiaries, especially low-income, minority, disabled, English learners, and those in high-need schools, through improved access to libraries and reading choices.
- Educators and School Librarians: Gain recognition, funding for training/hiring, collaboration opportunities, and liability shields.
- State and Local Education Agencies/School Boards: Must implement policies, report data, and assure constitutional compliance to access funds.
- Families and Communities: Benefit from family literacy programs, diverse materials, and public notifications.
- State Library Agencies: Newly involved in grant planning and technical assistance.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Introduces liability immunity for right-to-read actions, potentially reducing lawsuits against educators for material selections, but carves out exceptions to preserve broader ESEA protections (e.g., against gross negligence).
- Constitutional: Reinforces First Amendment protections by mandating diverse access and prohibiting partisan library curation, framing schools as preparing citizens for informed participation. Ties Fourteenth Amendment equal protection to nondiscriminatory library services, which could challenge restrictive local policies (e.g., book removals) without overriding school board discretion if viewpoint-neutral.
- Political: Promotes inclusive, evidence-based literacy amid debates on school materials, potentially countering efforts to limit diverse content by emphasizing freedom of choice and anti-discrimination. As an amendment to ESEA, it leverages existing federal funding to influence state practices without new mandates, but requires congressional appropriations for full effect.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]
Cosponsors (31)
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4], Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-04: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-12-04: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Right to Read Act of 2025 — issued 2025-12-04 — PDF (19 pages)