Provides grants to nonprofit organizations that provide eligible home reading programs that provide independent reading level books that are individually mailed to the residences of kindergarten through fifth grade students on a weekly basis.
Summary
This bill creates a grant program to support nonprofit-run home reading programs aimed at improving elementary literacy, especially for kindergarten through fifth grade students. It authorizes up to $500,000 from state Coronavirus relief funds for fiscal year 2026, to be distributed by the Department of Education to local education agencies, with a stated focus on economically disadvantaged households.
To qualify for funding, a nonprofit program must mail independent reading-level books to students weekly, provide regular multilingual parent or guardian outreach, and include student-selected books that children keep. The program must also use literacy-based exercises, offer a customizable data portal, and collect and report detailed participation and outcome data, including parental engagement and demographic information. The bill caps the combined cost of the program and district matching funds at $50 per student per semester and takes effect immediately.
Impact
The bill would create a new state-funded grant mechanism tied to local education agencies and nonprofit literacy providers, using Coronavirus relief funds for a targeted elementary reading intervention. It would not directly amend existing education statutes in the text provided, but it would direct the Department of Education to administer grants, require district matching funds, and impose reporting and verification requirements on participating nonprofits and districts. The practical effect would be to expand access to home-based literacy programming for young students, particularly in low-income communities, while adding data collection and accountability obligations for grantees.
Sentiment
The available context suggests a generally supportive policy approach focused on closing the elementary literacy gap through evidence-based, family-engaged reading support. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no direct record of debate or opposition in the materials. The bill’s structure emphasizes measurable outcomes, parental engagement, and affordability, which indicates a reform-oriented and programmatic tone rather than a controversial one.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are likely to be the use of state Coronavirus relief funds for an education grant program, the requirement that local education agencies secure matching funds, and the administrative burden of detailed data reporting and auditable verification. Some stakeholders may also question whether the program’s nonprofit-only eligibility, multilingual outreach requirements, or per-student cost cap could limit participation or implementation. No specific opposing or supporting speakers are identified in the provided record.
Same As
Provides grants to nonprofit organizations that provide eligible home reading programs that provide independent reading level books that are individually mailed to the residences of kindergarten through fifth grade students on a weekly basis.
Provides grants to nonprofit organizations that provide eligible home reading programs that provide independent reading level books that are individually mailed to the residences of kindergarten through fifth grade students on a weekly basis.
Quality Basic Education Act; $500,000.00 in matching grants for purpose of providing home reading programs for students in kindergarten through fourth grade; provisions
Provides that transportation shall be provided to all children attending grades kindergarten through twelve who live within a fifteen mile radius of the school they legally attend; provides that such transportation may also be provided for such students to before-and/or-after-school child care locations.
Provides that transportation shall be provided to all children attending grades kindergarten through twelve who live within a fifteen mile radius of the school they legally attend; provides that such transportation may also be provided for such students to before-and/or-after-school child care locations.
A pilot program to provide grants to schools that provide instruction in a foreign language to students in kindergarten through grade three; and to provide an appropriation.
Requires each school district to ensure that every public school in which school days exceed five hours in duration provides up to thirty minutes of daily recess within the school day for all students in kindergarten through fifth grade and for students in sixth grade who attend an elementary school.
Establishes the homeowner protection program; provides that the department of law shall establish the homeowner protection program to ensure the availability of free housing counseling and legal services to homeowners for the purposes of mitigating threats to homeownership; provides that the department of law shall provide grants to eligible not-for-profit housing counseling organizations and legal services organizations to provide services under the program.
Establishes the homeowner protection program; provides that the department of law shall establish the homeowner protection program to ensure the availability of free housing counseling and legal services to homeowners for the purposes of mitigating threats to homeownership; provides that the department of law shall provide grants to eligible not-for-profit housing counseling organizations and legal services organizations to provide services under the program.
Authorizes SUNY and CUNY to provide emergency aid grants to certain students; provides that the state shall reimburse half of all such grants provided; requires the higher education services corporation to provide an annual report on such programs.
Authorizes SUNY and CUNY to provide emergency aid grants to certain students; provides that the state shall reimburse half of all such grants provided; requires the higher education services corporation to provide an annual report on such programs.