20 USC § 6646 - Innovative approaches to literacy

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t20/s6646"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "20 USC § 6646 - Innovative approaches to literacy"
title_number: 20
title_name: "EDUCATION"
section_number: "6646"
section_name: "Innovative approaches to literacy"
chapter_number: 70
chapter_name: "STRENGTHENING AND IMPROVEMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS"
subchapter_number: "II"
subchapter_name: "PREPARING, TRAINING, AND RECRUITING HIGH-QUALITY TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, OR OTHER SCHOOL LEADERS"
part_number: "B"
part_name: "National Activities"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 89–10, title II, § 2226, as added Pub. L. 114–95, title II, § 2002, Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1944.)"
---


# § 6646. Innovative approaches to literacy

**(a)** **In general** From amounts reserved under section 6621(2) of this title, the Secretary may award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities for the purposes of promoting literacy programs that support the development of literacy skills in low-income communities, including—

**(1)** developing and enhancing effective school library programs, which may include providing professional development for school librarians, books, and up-to-date materials to high-need schools;

**(2)** early literacy services, including pediatric literacy programs through which, during well-child visits, medical providers trained in research-based methods of early language and literacy promotion provide developmentally appropriate books and recommendations to parents to encourage them to read aloud to their children starting in infancy; and

**(3)** programs that provide high-quality books on a regular basis to children and adolescents from low-income communities to increase reading motivation, performance, and frequency.

**(b)** **Definitions** In this section:

**(1)** **Eligible entity** The term “eligible entity” means—

**(A)** a local educational agency in which 20 percent or more of the students served by the local educational agency are from families with an income below the poverty line;

**(B)** a consortium of such local educational agencies;

**(C)** the Bureau of Indian Education; or

**(D)** an eligible national nonprofit organization.

**(2)** **Eligible national nonprofit organization** The term “eligible national nonprofit organization” means an organization of national scope that—

**(A)** is supported by staff, which may include volunteers, or affiliates at the State and local levels; and

**(B)** demonstrates effectiveness or high-quality plans for addressing childhood literacy activities for the population targeted by the grant.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 89–10, title II, § 2226, as added Pub. L. 114–95, title II, § 2002, Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1944.)

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Prior sections 6646 to 6650 were omitted in the general amendment of this subchapter by .

Section 6646, , as added , , ; amended , , , 2681–406, related to priority for professional development in mathematics and science.

Section 6647, , as added , , , related to State-level activities.

Section 6648, , as added , , ; amended , , , 3009–313, related to local plan and application for improving teaching and learning.

Section 6649, , as added , , ; amended , , , 3009–313, related to local cost-sharing.

Section 6650, , as added , , , related to local allocation of funds and allowable activities.

Prior section 6651, , as added , , , related to national activities of demonstrated effectiveness, prior to repeal by , title II, § 2002, , , 1913, effective , except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs.

Another prior section 6651, , as added , , , related to higher education activities, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by .

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective , except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see , set out as an Effective Date of 2015 Amendment note under .