The Joint Committee on Education will determine the fate of Bill S.263/H.579 - An Act promoting high-quality comprehensive literacy instruction in all Massachusetts schools on Wednesday February 7. The committee is accepting input through Tuesday, February 6. Our objective is to advance S.263/H.579 out of committee favorably.

This bill outlines a comprehensive framework to improve literacy education, ensuring universal access to evidence-based early literacy practices and science-based reading research. A recent Boston Globe article underscores the bill's importance, noting that over half of last year's third-graders were not proficient readers, with even worse outcomes for children of color, low-income students, and those with disabilities.

Reading is a fundamental skill that shapes our educational journey and fosters a lifelong love of learning. The National Reading Panel concluded that phonics instruction is pivotal for enhancing reading skills, preventing difficulties, and promoting long-term academic success.

Lower literacy is linked to poorer health, chronic diseases, and shorter life expectancy, with research indicating a correlation between literacy levels and the likelihood of imprisonment.

The provisions in S.263/H.579 offer a comprehensive framework for improving literacy education, not imposing a specific curriculum mandate but safeguarding against low-quality and harmful curriculum. Immediate action is crucial to discard unsupported approaches and endorse evidence-based early literacy practices, as highlighted by Governor Healy in her recent State of the Commonwealth address.

Please write to the chairs of the Joint Commission on Education today and urge them to pass S.263/H.579 out of committee favorably!