20 U.S.C. § 6671 — Innovative approaches to literacy

**(a) In general** From amounts reserved under [section 6621(2) of this title](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title20-section6621/2&num=0&edition=prelim), 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.