---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 6646"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "6646"
heading: "Innovative approaches to literacy"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/6646"
units:
  - "Chapter 70 — Strengthening and Improvement of Elementary and Secondary Schools"
  - "Subchapter II — Preparing, Training, and Recruiting High-Quality Teachers, Principals, or Other School Leaders"
  - "Part B — National Activities"
  - "Subpart 2 — literacy education for all, results for the nation"
---

# §6646. Innovative approaches to literacy

- (a) **In general—** From amounts reserved under [section 6621(2) of this title](/usc/20/6621.md?p=2), the [Secretary](/usc/20/7801.md?p=46) may award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements, on a competitive basis, to [eligible entities](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1) 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](/usc/20/7801.md?p=42) for school librarians, books, and up-to-date materials to [high-need schools](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-2);
  - (2) early literacy services, including pediatric literacy programs through which, during well-[child](/usc/20/7801.md?p=3) visits, medical providers trained in research-based methods of early language and literacy promotion provide developmentally appropriate books and recommendations to [parents](/usc/20/7801.md?p=38) 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](/usc/20/6631.md?p=b-1)” means—
    - (A) a [local educational agency](/usc/20/7801.md?p=30-A) in which 20 percent or more of the students served by the [local educational agency](/usc/20/7801.md?p=30-A) are from families with an income below the [poverty line](/usc/20/7801.md?p=41);
    - (B) a consortium of such [local educational agencies](/usc/20/7801.md?p=30-A);
    - (C) the Bureau of [Indian](/usc/20/7491.md?p=3) 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](/usc/20/6602.md?p=2) 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.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Prior sections 6646 to 6650 were omitted in the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 107–110.

Section 6646, Pub. L. 89–10, title II, § 2206, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, § 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3625; amended Pub. L. 105–277, div. A, § 101(f) [title VIII, § 101(b)(2)], Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–337, 2681–406, related to priority for professional development in mathematics and science.

Section 6647, Pub. L. 89–10, title II, § 2207, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, § 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3625, related to State-level activities.

Section 6648, Pub. L. 89–10, title II, § 2208, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, § 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3626; amended Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(e) [title VII, § 709(b)(3)(A)], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–233, 3009–313, related to local plan and application for improving teaching and learning.

Section 6649, Pub. L. 89–10, title II, § 2209, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, § 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3628; amended Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(e) [title VII, § 709(b)(3)(A)], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–233, 3009–313, related to local cost-sharing.

Section 6650, Pub. L. 89–10, title II, § 2210, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, § 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3629, related to local allocation of funds and allowable activities.

Prior section 6651, Pub. L. 89–10, title II, § 2151, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title II, § 201, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1635, related to national activities of demonstrated effectiveness, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 114–95, § 5, title II, § 2002, Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1806, 1913, effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs.

Another prior section 6651, Pub. L. 89–10, title II, § 2211, as added Pub. L. 103–382, title I, § 101, Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 3632, related to higher education activities, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 107–110.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as an Effective Date of 2015 Amendment note under section 6301 of this title.