; and (E) gender. 3. Purpose The purpose of this Act is to assist State educational agencies and local educational agencies with ensuring that every elementary school and secondary school has at least one full-time certified reading, literacy, or biliteracy specialist on staff, and to support the recruitment, hiring, retention, and development of certified reading, literacy, or biliteracy specialists. 4. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, children who struggle to read proficiently by fourth grade are 4 times more likely to not graduate from high school than their peers with grade-level reading skills. (2) According to the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress, 33 percent of fourth graders and 31 percent of eighth graders scored at or above proficient in English reading. In 2019, 37 percent of twelfth graders scored at or above proficient in English reading. (3) In 2022, 66 percent of fourth graders and 69 percent of eighth graders scored at or below the National Assessment of Educational Progress Basic English reading level. (4) According to leading researchers Thomas and Collier, students that have access to high-quality bilingual instruction tend to exhibit higher educational outcomes long-term, as demonstrated by academic performance and engagement, than their peers who are not enrolled in bilingual programs. 5. Literacy improvement and transformation grant program (a) Grant program authorized (1) In General The Secretary shall establish a program to award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to carry out the activities described under subsection (d). (2) Duration Grants awarded under this section shall be for a period of 5 years. (b) Application An eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including— (1) a needs assessment of the eligible entity that demonstrates the existence of