An Act to amend the national reading improvement program to provide more flexibility in the types of projects which can be funded, and for other purposes.
PL 94-194 (H.R.8304), enacted 12/31/1975

PUBLIC LAW 94-194—DEC. 31, 1975 
89 STAT. 1103 
Public Law 94-194 
94th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the national reading improvement program to provide more flexibility 
in the types of projects which can be funded, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
STATE LEADERSHIP AND TRAINING PROJECTS 
SECTION 1. (a) Section 705(a) of the Education Amendments of 
1974 is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new 
paragraph: 
"(3) (A) Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraphs (b) 
through (g) of this section, the Commissioner is authorized to enter 
into agreements pursuant to this paragraph during the fiscal year 1976 
and the period beginning July 1, 1976 through September 30, 1976, 
with State educational agencies for the carrying out by such agencies 
of leadership and training activities designed to prepare personnel 
throughout the State to conduct projects which have been demon-
strated in that State or in other States to be effective in overcoming 
reading deficiencies. These activities shall be limited to (i) assessments 
of need, including personnel needs, relating to reading problems in the 
State, (ii) inservice training for local reading program administrators 
and instructional personnel, and (iii) provision of technical assistance 
and dissemination of information to local educational agencies and 
other appropriate nonprofit agencies. 
"(B) Not to exceed $5,300,000 of any sums appropriated pursuant 
to subsection (a) of section 732 for the fiscal year 1976, and for the 
period from July 1, 1976 through September 30, 1976, may be used 
for carrying out this paragraph.". 
(b) (1) Part C of such Act is amended by adding after section 723 
the following new section: 
u
. 
STATE LEADERSHIP AND TRAINING PROJECTS 
"SEC. 724, The Commissioner is authorized to enter into agreements 
pursuant to this section with State educational agencies for the carry-
ing out by such agencies of leadership and training activities designed 
to prepare personnel throughout the State to conduct projects which 
have been demonstrated in that State or other States to be effective in 
overcoming reading deficiencies. The activities authorized by this sec-
tion shall be limited to— 
" (1) assessments of need, including personnel needs, relating to 
reading problems in the State, 
"(2) inservice training for local reading program administra-
tors and instructional personnel, and 
"(3) provision of technical assistance and dissemination of 
information to local educational agencies and other appropriate 
nonprofit agencies.". 
(2) The amendment made by paragraph (1) of this subsection shall 
take effect on October 1,1976. 
Dec. 31, 1975 
[H.R. 8304] 
National reading 
improvement 
program. 
20 use 1921. 
20 use 1982. 
20 use 1964. 
Effective date. 
20 use 1964 
note. 
89 STAT. 1104 
PUBLIC LAW 94-194—DEC. 31, 1975 
20 use 1921. 
(3) Section 705(a)(3) of the Education Amendments of 1974 as 
added by subsection (a) of this section is repealed effective Septem-
ber 30, 1976. 
Appropriation 
(c) Section 732 of such Act is amended by adding at the end 
authorization. 
thereof the following new subsection: 
20 use 1982. 
"(e) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the 
Ante, p. 1103. 
provisions of section 724, relating to State leadership and training 
projects, $6,400,000 each for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1977, 
and for the succeeding fiscal year.". 
READING PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS 
SEC. 2. (a) Section 705(b) of such Act is amended by striking out 
"Each such application shall set forth a reading program which 
provides for—" and by inserting in lieu thereof "Each such appli-
cation shall set forth a reading program which provides for the follow-
ing (except that the requirements contained in paragraphs (4) and 
(13) shall be met to the extent practicable)—". 
(b) Section 705(c) of such Act is amended by striking out ", in 
addition to meeting the requirements of subsection (b)", and by 
inserting in lieu thereof ", in addition to meeting the requirements of 
subsection (b), except for paragraphs (4) and (13) thereof,". 
(c) Section 705(c)(3) of such Act is amended by inserting "at" 
before the phrase "which such preelementary". 
(d) Section 705(e) of such Act is amended to read as follows: 
"(e) No agreement may be entered into under this part unless the 
application submitted to the Commissioner has first been approved 
by the State educational agency." 
STATE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS 
SEC. 3. Section 705 of such Act is amended by adding at the end 
thereof the following new subsection: 
"(h) From the sums appropriated for the purposes of this part for 
any fiscal year, the Commissioner may pay to each State educational 
agency, in addition to any amounts paid to such agency pursuant to 
subsection (a) of this section, the amount necessary to meet the costs 
of carrying out its responsibilities under this section, including the 
costs of the advisory council required to be established pursuant to 
subsection (d). However, such amount may not exceed 1 per centum of 
the total amount of grants under this part made within the State for 
that fiscal year." 
STATE ADVISORY COUNCILS 
20 use 1944. 
SEC. 4. Section 714 of such Act is amended by adding at the end 
thereof the following new subsection: 
"(f) The functions of the State advisory council on reading, 
required to be established by subsection (a)(2) of this section, may 
be carried out by the State advisory council created pursuant to sec-
tion 705(d) (1)." 
READING ACADEMIES 
20 use 1963. 
SEC. 5. Section 723 (a) of such Act is amended by inserting "in-school 
as well as out-of-school" before "youths" 
NATIONAL IMPACT READING PROGRAMS 
SEC. 6. (a) Part C of title VII of such Act is amended by adding 
the following new section after section 724: 
PUBLIC LAW 94-194—DEC. 31, 1975 
89 STAT. 1105 
u NATIONAL IMPACT READING PROGRAMS 
"SEC. 725. (a) The Commissioner is authorized to carry out, either 
20 USC 1965 
directly or through grants or contracts, (1) innovation and develop-
ment projects and activities of national significance which show 
promise of having a substantial impact in overcoming reading defi-
ciencies in children, youths, and adults through incorporation into 
ongoing State and local educational systems throughout the Nation, 
and (2) dissemination of information related to suoh programs. 
"(b) Not to exceed $600,000 of any sums appropriated pursuant to 
subsection (a) of section 732 for the fiscal year 1976, and for the period 
from Julj^ 1, 1976 through September 30,1976, may be used for carry-
ing out this section." 
(b) (1) Section 725 of the Education Amendments of 1974 as added 
by subsection (a) of this section is amended by striking out "(a)" 
after the section designation and by striking out subsection (b) of 
such section. 
(2) The amendment made by paragraph (1) of this subsection Effective date, 
shall take effect on Septeniber 30,1976. 
(c) Section 732 of sueh Act is amended by adding at the end thereof 
the following new subsection: 
"(f) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the pro-
visions of section 725, relating to national impact reading programs, 
$800,000 each for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1977 and for 
the succeeding fiscal year.". 
20 USC 1982. 
20 USC 1965 
note. 
Appropriations 
authorization,, 
20 USC 1982. 
REPORTING DATE 
SEC. 7. Section 731 (a) of title VII of such Act is amended by strik- 20 USC 1981. 
ing out "Maroh 31" and inserting in lieu thereof "February 1". 
ACCEPTANCE OP GIFTS BY AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEAD OF AN EDUCATION 
AGENCY 
SEC. 8. Part D of such Act is amended by adding the following new 
section after section 732: 
" A C C E P T A N C E OF GIFFS 
"SEC. 733. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 408(a) (3) of 
the General Education Provisions Act, the Commissioner may accept 
on behalf of the United States, gifts or donations made with or with-
out conditions of services, money or property (real, personal, or mixed; 
tangible or intangible) made for any activities authorized to be carried 
out by such agency under the authority of this title.". 
20 USC 1983. 
20 USC 
1221e-3. 
INEXPENSIVE BOOK DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM FOR READING MOTIVATION 
SEC. 9. (a) Part C of title VII of such Act is amended by adding 
at the end thereof the following new section: 
" I N E X P E N S I V E B O O K D I S T R I B U T I O N P R O G R A M F O R READING MOTIVATION 
"SEC. 726. (a) The Commissioner is authorized (1) to enter into 20 USC 1966. 
a contract with a private nonprofit group or public agency (herein-
after in this section referred to as the 'contractor'), which has as its 
primary purpose the motivation of children to learn to read, to support 
and promote the establishment of reading motivational programs 
89 STAT. 1106 
PUBLIC LAW 94-194—DEC. 31, 1975 
Definitions. 
20 use 881. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
20 use 1982. 
Ante, p. 1105. 
which include the distribution of inexpensive books to students and 
(2) to pay the Federal share of the cost of such programs. 
"(b) This contract shall provide that— 
"(1) the contractor will enter into subcontracts with local 
private nonprofit groups or organizations or with public agencies 
(hereinafter referred to as 'subcontractors') under which the 
subcontractors will agree to establish, operate, and provide the 
non-Federal share of the cost of reading motivational programs 
which include the distribution of books by gift, loan, or sale at a 
nominal price to children in preelementary, elementary, or second-
ary schools; 
" (2) funds made available by the Commissioner to a contractor 
pursuant to any contract entered into under this section will be 
used to pay the Federal share of the cost of establishing and 
operating reading motivational 
programs as provided 
in 
paragraph (1) ; 
" (3) the contractor will meet such other conditions and stand-
ards as the Commissioner determines to be necessary to assure 
the effectiveness of the programs authorized by this section and 
will provide technical assistance in furtherance of the purposes 
of this section. 
"(c) The Commissioner shall make no payment of the Federal share 
of the cost of acquiring and distributing books pursuant to a contract 
authorized by this section unless he determines that the contractor 
or the subcontractor, as the case may be, has made arrangements with 
book publishers or distributors to obtain books at discounts at least 
as favorable as discounts that are customarily given by such publisher 
or distributor for book purchases made under similar circumstances 
in the absence of Federal assistance. 
"(d) For purposes of this section.— 
"(1) the term 'nonprofit', when used in connection with any 
organization, means an organization no part of the net earnings 
of which inures, or may lawfully inure, to the benefit of any 
private shareholder or individual; 
"(2) the term 'Federal share' means, with respect to the cost of 
books purchased by a local private nonprofit group, organization, 
or public agency for a program in a locality for distributing such 
books to schoolchildren in that locality, 50 per centum of the cost 
of that agency or group or organization for such books for such 
program ; 
"(3) the term 'preelementary school' means a day or residential 
school which provides pre-elementary education, as determined 
under State law, except that such term does not include education 
for children who have not attained three years of age; 
"(4) the term 'elementary school' has the same meaning as pro-
vided in section 801(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of 1965; and 
"(5) the term 'secondary school' has the same meaning as 
provided in section 801(h) of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965." 
(b) Section 732 of such Act is amended by adding at the end thereof 
the following new subsection: 
"(g) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the 
provisions of section 726, relating to inexpensive book distribution 
programs for reading motivation, $4,000,000 for the fiscal year ending 
June 30,1976, and $9,000,000 for each of the following two fiscal years. 
PUBLIC LAW 94-194—DEC. 31, 1975 
89 STAT. 1107 
Under such conditions as the Commissioner determines to be appro-
priate, not to exceed 10 per centum of the amounts appropriated for 
each nscal year shall be available for a contract from the Commis-
sioner to the contractor designated under section 726 for technical Ante, p. 1105. 
assistance under subsection (b) (3) of section 726 to carry out the 
provisions of such section." 
SPECIAL EMPHASIS PROJECTS 
SEC. 10. Section 721(b)(1) of such Act is amended by inserting 20 U
S
C 1961. 
"and (c)" after "section 705(b)". 
Approved December 31, 1975. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 94-720 (Comm. on Education and Labor). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol 121 (1975): 
Dec. 15, considered and passed House. 
Dec. 17, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Dec. 19, House concurred in Senate amendments.