S. 5318 — Summer Meals and Learning Act of 2026

This section defines terms for the Act, including an eligible local educational agency as one serving summer lunch through the summer food service program or seamless summer option where at least 50 percent of prekindergarten through grade 3 students read below grade level or are at risk, and a summer early reading program as a summer program of at least 6 weeks held at such a lunch site that provides school library access and literacy activities.

This section authorizes $5 million annually for FY2027 through FY2031 for competitive grants from the Secretary to state library administrative agencies. The agencies award subgrants to local educational agencies to operate summer early reading programs at summer meal sites, with requirements for community partner involvement, minimum library access hours, personnel training, and annual progress reports to the Secretary.