Today, the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan and bicameral H.R. 7240, the READ Act Reauthorization Act of 2022. The Basic Education Coalition is grateful to Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) for their leadership on the legislation to reauthorize the Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development (READ) Act for an additional five fiscal years. It is now up to the Senate to pass this critically important legislation, which will equitably expand access to basic education for children around the world.
Since the READ Act was first signed into law five years ago, there has been tremendous progress in advancing quality basic education around the world. In 2018, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) released the U.S. Government Strategy (Strategy) on International Basic Education for Fiscal Years 2019-2023, which has since demonstrated the U.S. Government’s commitment to international education and leadership on pressing international education challenges.
The READ Act Reauthorization would continue the goal of providing access to education for some of the hundreds of millions of young people who are currently not in school, or who do not have access to education because of conflict or political instability.
The READ Act amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, and states that it shall be the policy of the United States to work with partner countries, other donors, multilateral institutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental and civil society organizations, including faith-based organizations, to promote quality basic education through programs and activities that:
1. respond to the needs of developing countries to achieve improvements in literacy;
2. strengthen education systems and expands access to safe learning;
3. promote education as a foundation for sustained economic growth; and
4. monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and quality of basic education programs in partner countries.
In addition to its bipartisan, bicameral support, the READ Act Reauthorization has broad support from diverse civil society stakeholders, coalitions, and partners.
Read Rep. Karen Bass’ full press release here.
The Basic Education Coalition is a group of leading U.S.-based organizations and academic institutions working together to promote global peace and prosperity through education.