Summer Meals and Learning Act of 2026

The **Summer Meals and Learning Act of 2026** creates a federal competitive grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Education. The program provides grants to state library administrative agencies, which must then award competitive subgrants to eligible local educational agencies (LEAs, such as school districts). The purpose of these subgrants is to keep school libraries open during the summer and offer early reading and literacy programs at schools that operate federal summer meal programs.

* **Federal Government:** The U.S. Secretary of Education is authorized to manage the grant program and collect annual progress reports. * **State Library Agencies:** Agencies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands can apply for grants and award subgrants. * **Local Educational Agencies (LEAs):** School districts are eligible for subgrants if they: 1. Operate a summer lunch program under the Summer Food Service Program or the Seamless Summer Option; and 2. Have at least 50% of students in grades PreK–3 reading below grade level, or at risk of reading below grade level, by grade 3. * **Students and Personnel:** PreK–3 students attending participating summer lunch sites gain access to library resources and literacy programs. State library agency personnel can be hired and trained to teach these summer programs.

* **State Application and Management:** To receive funding, state library agencies must apply to the Department of Education detailing how they will competitively award subgrants (prioritizing LEAs with high student-to-meal-site ratios), set local program standards (such as library hours), and ensure LEAs carry out reading programs at each meal site. * **Local Program Delivery:** LEAs receiving subgrants must partner with community organizations to establish a "Summer Early Reading Program." These programs must: * Last at least six weeks during the summer. * Be located at a school operating a summer lunch site. * Provide students with access to the school library. * Offer literacy activities or expanded learning opportunities. * Use subgrant funds to develop programs, carry out activities, and hire and train state library agency personnel to teach. * **Annual Reporting:** State library agencies and participating LEAs are required to submit annual progress reports to the U.S. Secretary of Education for every year they receive funds.

* **Authorized Spending:** The bill authorizes $5,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2031. * **Pass-Through Requirement:** State library agencies are required to use all grant funds they receive to fund competitive subgrants for eligible LEAs. * **Taxes and Fees:** The bill does not create or alter any taxes or user fees.

* **Competitive Process:** Funding is not guaranteed for all states or LEAs; grants and subgrants are awarded on a competitive basis. * **Strict Eligibility Criteria:** LEAs cannot receive funding unless they operate a qualifying summer lunch program **and** meet the requirement regarding PreK–3 student reading levels (50% or more reading below, or at risk of reading below, grade level). * **Duration Requirement:** Funded reading programs must operate for a minimum of six weeks over the summer.

This bill authorizes $5 million per year from fiscal years 2027 to 2031 for a competitive federal grant program that helps funding-eligible school districts open school libraries and host at least six weeks of summer reading activities at schools serving summer meals.