(Washington, D.C.) – The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 7890, the Science of Reading Act of 2026, authored by Rep. Erin Houchin (IN-09).
This bill calls for prioritizing the Science of Reading in the deployment of federal literacy funds.
This would bring federal policy into alignment with advancements in scientific understanding of how children learn to read, and reserves grant funding to the most impactful and effective methods of instruction.
American schoolchildren at all levels have faced declining literacy skills for nearly a decade.
Houchin’s Office says this is a quiet crisis that has significant economic, social, and behavioral impacts for the rest of each student’s life, and for the communities that they live in.
The Science of Reading is a body of research that emphasizes phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension as pillars of instructional principles.
Implementation of Science of Reading in states across the country has yielded significant improvements in reading acquisition on all levels, including in Indiana.
“Reading is the foundation of learning, and we cannot accept declining literacy rates as the status quo. The Science of Reading Act will equip classrooms with proven methods to ensure every student can read,” Rep. Houchin said. “Indiana has shown that the Science of Reading works, and I’m proud to see this important legislation pass the House.”
“Indiana continues to invest historic resources to ensure the science of reading is used in every Hoosier classroom. Through this intentional focus, we’ve seen two consecutive years of historic literacy gains, with nearly 90 percent of third graders now reading proficiently,” said Indiana Gov. Mike Braun. “This legislation reinforces our work in Indiana, ensures taxpayer dollars are only used on what we know works, and will help more students across the country to become strong readers.”
“Literacy is the key to unlocking future success for our students, which is why it is absolutely essential that we use instructional strategies proven to help children learn to read. Through Indiana’s focus on the science of reading, we have more Hoosier third graders reading today than even before the pandemic,” said Indiana Secretary of Education Dr. Katie Jenner. “By doubling down on these evidence-based strategies, we can ensure students across Indiana and the nation have the best possible chance for literacy success, and thus lifelong opportunities.”
The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
