I believe that learning to read is a right for all California students because reading is the gateway to knowledge and future opportunities. Unfortunately, California is facing a literacy crisis in part due to ineffective early literacy instruction. Nearly 178,000 3rd-grade students (70%) from low-income communities are not meeting state standards for English language arts, and the vast majority of those falling behind are disproportionately Black and Latino children, English learners, and students with disabilities. By 3rd grade, students move from learning to read to reading to learn, and those who are not on grade level at this point rarely catch up on their academic journey. This is a major contributing factor to the 28% adult illiteracy rate in our state, one of the highest in the nation. Adults with limited literacy are more likely to be unemployed, disenfranchised, and suffer from poor health conditions. 

We must prioritize equitable access to opportunity for children by ensuring that they can read. There is no greater, more pressing issue concerning public education at this moment in time.

Decades of interdisciplinary research known as the science of reading demonstrates strong evidence around how students best develop literacy skills. These evidence-based practices include systematic and explicit instruction focused on phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, oral language development, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing.  While California has taken some actions in recent years that adhere to the science of reading, too many students in California are still not being taught with evidence-based instructional materials and not all educators have been provided with the necessary evidence-based training and support to effectively teach reading.

To combat this, I support AB 2222, authored by Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio, that will ensure state-adopted literacy materials, training for elementary educators, and accountability and professional development for teacher preparation programs and their faculty aligned with the science of reading.