WASHINGTON, D.C. September 16, 2026 – National Parents Union President Keri Rodrigues released the following statement in response to the House’s passage of the Science of Reading Act:
“Today’s House passage of the Science of Reading Act is another important step toward confronting America’s literacy crisis with the urgency it deserves.
The National Parents Union celebrates federal efforts to ensure that every child has access to effective, evidence-based reading instruction. The Science of Reading Act moves us closer to that goal by strengthening the alignment of federal literacy investments with the science of reading and helping ensure taxpayer dollars support instructional practices backed by evidence.
We are also optimistic about the bipartisan READ Act, which is backed by more than 120 organizations and former Secretaries of Education Arne Duncan and Margaret Spellings. The READ act advances key literacy reforms families have long advocated for, including universal screenings, parent notification, teacher preparation, and high-quality instructional materials.
Taken together, both bills represent a significant shift in federal policy after a decade of declining achievement, finally moving forward to implement the research that the National Reading Panel confirmed over 25 years ago.
We applaud the bipartisan leaders in the House and Senate working to address this crisis and urge Congress to keep the momentum going. America’s children have waited for far too long. The time to act is now.”
About the National Parents Union
The National Parents Union is a network of parent organizations and grassroots activists working to improve the quality of life for children and families across the country. NPU represents more than 1.7 million families through over 1,800 affiliated organizations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.