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Read. Follow. Verify.Right to Read Act of 2025
Last action · December 4, 2025: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.Sponsors: Adelita Grijalva and 33 others
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What This Bill Would Do
This bill amends federal education law to define and promote 'effective school libraries' and establishes a formal 'right to read' for students. It mandates that states and local school districts report on library access and authorizes $600 million in annual funding for literacy grants.
The bill requires states and school districts to update their education plans to ensure equitable access to school libraries and librarians, while authorizing $600 million annually for literacy programs starting in fiscal year 2026.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
School Librarians
The bill classifies them as teachers and mandates their inclusion in state and local education planning and training.
State Educational Agencies
They must update state plans to include library access metrics and notify the public of 'right to read' policies.
Local School Districts
They must report on how they support school libraries and protect the 'right to read' in their local plans.
Key Facts
- Authorizes $500 million annually for fiscal years 2026–2030 for literacy grants under section 2222.
- Authorizes $100 million annually for fiscal years 2026–2030 for literacy grants under section 2226.
- Defines an 'effective school library' as one staffed by at least one full-time State-certified librarian and open before, during, and after the school day.
- Defines 'right to read' to include access to evidence-based instruction, effective libraries, family support, diverse materials, and the freedom to choose reading materials.
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- Defines 'information literacy' as the skills needed to find, retrieve, understand, evaluate, and use information.
- Requires states to report on how they ensure low-income, minority, disabled, and English-learner students have access to effective school libraries.
- Requires local school districts to outline policies protecting the 'right to read' and how they support State-certified school librarians.
- Classifies school librarians as 'teachers' under federal education law.
- Requires states to notify the public and tribal organizations of their 'right to read' policies.
- Adds library support and librarian recruitment/retention to the list of allowable uses for state formula grants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the bill define as an 'effective school library'?
Does this bill change the definition of a teacher?
How much money does this bill authorize for literacy?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
2 actions- Dec 4, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Dec 4, 2025HouseIntroducedIntroduced in House
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
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Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Librarian Reclassification
The bill attempts to elevate the status of school librarians by legally defining them as teachers, which may impact collective bargaining and certification requirements.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.congress.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment20Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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