The Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development Act (READ Act) has maintained significant support in legislation, where the Senate has read the bill twice. The goal of the READ Act is to promote education and maintaining stable communications in order to promote peaceful transactions with specific countries in need. Below are 10 facts regarding the READ Act.

Ten Facts About the READ Act

1. Sponsored by Marco Rubio, the READ Act is a bill aimed at achieving universal access to quality basic education and significantly improving the learning environment in developing countries. Through cooperation with foreign governments, a consistent curriculum would be established in each respective country in order to stabilize the education system.
2. Curricula are aimed at improving literacy and numeracy, as well as other developmental skills that can benefit a future worker. This system would be created only after consulting various groups ranging from government to organizations that represent teachers and students.
3. Breaking down barriers is an essential part of this bill because it allows for a safe learning environment. Women and girls would get the same opportunity to benefit from the READ Act. Also, marginalized groups such as individuals in conflict zones and children would get priority to the educational benefits.
4. When a country becomes a partner and is in need of assistance, the improvements are monitored in order to make sure goals are achieved. This is done by the Senior Coordinator, who is appointed by the President and is responsible for the resources used for the establishment of universal basic education.
5. In order to eliminate the potential for unnecessary costs, all similar positions in different facets responsible for the enactment of this bill would become unnecessary, after the legislation is passed. The Senior Coordinator for the United States Agency for International Development would be eliminated in order to prevent duplication.
6. The READ Act aims to accelerate the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 by including elements prioritizing the need for universal basic education and expanding the powers of the government, including “partnerships” with developing countries most in need. They would receive training and develop a plan of action for their education system.
7. This bill outlines the specific duties of the President in relation to the enactment of this bill. If passed, monitoring and evaluating would become a necessity, as progress would be made publicly available to ensure global progress.
8. No later than Oct. 1, 2017, the President has to submit a strategy to Congress on how to provide universal basic education to developing countries in need. The plan must be consistent and include long-term goals to be achieved from 2018 through 2022.
9. Before Mar. 31 of each year following enactment of this bill, a report must be given to Congress outlining the results of the strategy created by the President. It would include how successful coordination was made between different governmental agencies in implementing the READ Act and how qualified each country is to receive assistance. Progress in the implementation of this bill would also be included.
10. The READ Act would ensure the promotion of education as a foundation for sustained economic growth, enabling partner countries to develop a sustainable education system and strategy.

Reinforcing education through the READ Act means providing the marginalized in our global society with a safe environment in which to learn. Positive growth and the ability to one day start a business or pursue a college career allows people to become another skilled professional in the workforce.

– Nick Katsos

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