What's happening
This bill creates a state program and fund to support research on improving literacy in New York.
Why it matters
Impacts academic institutions statewide. The program provides new grant opportunities specifically for colleges and universities across New York that are already conducting—or interested in starting—research on literacy, potentially increasing research activity and innovation on literacy issues in both urban and rural areas.
Prioritizes merit-based, competitive funding. By requiring an open, peer-reviewed process for awarding grants, the bill aims to ensure that funding supports the most promising and high-quality literacy research, regardless of the institution’s size or affiliation, which could lead to more effective literacy interventions.
Establishes a dedicated, protected funding stream. The new fund will keep literacy research resources separate from other state funds, and allow for additional private or philanthropic contributions, helping to sustain literacy research efforts and potentially attracting outside investment into New York’s education sector.
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Who cares
Academic Institutions and Universities
These organizations will be directly impacted as they can apply for and potentially receive grants to conduct research on literacy, expanding opportunities for funding and research scope.
Researchers in Literacy and Related Fields
Individuals conducting or interested in basic, clinical, social, translational, technological, and behavioral literacy research will gain new funding opportunities and a more competitive, peer-reviewed grant process.
State Department of Education
The department will be responsible for administering the new program and fund, managing applications, overseeing the peer review process, and distributing grants.
New York State Taxpayers and Policymakers
As the program is publicly funded and aims to improve literacy outcomes, its success or failure will be of interest to those concerned with educational attainment, workforce readiness, and state budget allocations.
Headline styles
Fund Research on Literacy
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10358
IN SENATE
May 15, 2026
Introduced by Sen. RHOADS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to creating the research literacy enhancement program; and to amend the state finance law, in relation to creating the research literacy enhancement fund
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Title 6 of the education law is amended by adding a new article 107 to read as follows:
ARTICLE 107
RESEARCH LITERACY ENHANCEMENT ACT Section 5300. Short title.
5301. Definition.
5302. Research literacy enhancement program.
5303. Research literacy enhancement fund.
§ 5300. Short title. This title shall be known and may be cited as the "research literacy enhancement act".
§ 5301. Definition. As used in this title, "program" shall mean the research literacy enhancement program created pursuant to section five thousand three hundred two of this article.
§ 5302. Research literacy enhancement program. 1. The commissioner shall establish within the department a research literacy enhancement program through which the department shall make grants to academic institutions within the state currently conducting or having an interest in conducting basic and clinical, social, translational, technological, and behavioral research on literacy.
2. All research funds shall be awarded on the basis of the research priorities established for the program and the merit of the proposed research, as determined by an open, competitive peer review process that ensures objectivity, consistency, and high quality. All investigators, regardless of affiliation, shall have equal access and opportunity to compete for program funds.
§ 5303. Research literacy enhancement fund. All moneys received pursuant to section five thousand three hundred two of this article shall be
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13453-01-5
credited to the fund, as established by section ninety-five-l of the state finance law. The commissioner shall use the fund to administer the research literacy enhancement program and to make grants to awardees pursuant to section five thousand three hundred two of this article.
§ 2. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 95-l to read as follows:
§ 95-l. Research literacy enhancement fund. 1. There is hereby established in the joint custody of the commissioner of taxation and finance and the comptroller, a special fund to be known as the "research literacy enhancement fund".
2. Such fund shall consist of all monies appropriated for the purpose of such fund and any grant, gift or bequest made to the research literacy enhancement program as established by article one hundred seven of title six of the education law.
3. Moneys of the fund shall be available for grants through the research literacy enhancement program, and shall be expended only for the purposes spelled out in section five thousand three hundred two of the education law.
4. Moneys in the research literacy enhancement fund shall be kept separate and shall not be commingled with any other moneys in the custody of the commissioner of taxation and finance and the comptroller.
5. The moneys of the fund shall be paid out on the audit and warrant of the comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by the commissioner of education, or by an officer or employee of the department of education designated by such commissioner.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to creating the research literacy enhancement program; and to amend the state finance law, in relation to creating the research literacy enhancement fund
Purpose
Establishes the research literacy enhancement program; and to amend the state finance law, in relation to creating the research literacy enhancement fund.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Title 6 of the education law is amended by adding a new arti- cle 107 to read as follows:
ARTICLE 107
RESEARCH LITERACY ENHANCEMENT ACT
Section 5300. Short Title.
5301. Definition.
5303. Research literacy enhancement fund.
§ 5300 Short title. This title shall be known and may be cited as the "research literacy enhancement act."
§ 5301 Definition in bill.
2. All research funds shall be awarded as defined in the bill.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
Literacy is the beginning of all learning and literacy education is one of the foundations for future success in life. The Research Literacy Enhancement Act creates the research literacy enhancement fund within the Department of Education to enhance basic and clinical, social, tran- sitional, technological and behavioral research on the topic of litera- cy. Understanding the barriers to literacy and providing resources to fund research to develop ways to overcome such barriers is a vital step in providing eager minds the tools they need to reach their full poten- tial.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.