There is currently legislation before the Massachusetts House and Senate that, as currently drafted, would mandate the use of specific literacy curriculum and restrict educators from implementing effective practices. The House of Representatives is considering H.4672, which will soon be up for a vote on the House floor. In addition, Senators on the Joint Committee on Education are considering S.338.

Both bills undermine the longtime principle of local districts being able to choose curriculum aligned with our widely respected curriculum frameworks and instead allow the state to mandate the use of specific curricula in school districts. The bills also erroneously present certain components of reading instruction as if they are exhaustive and universally applicable to all students. In addition, they seek to prohibit activities or lesson plans that include strategies that leading scholars of reading have found are important tools for teachers to have to be able to provide the highest quality of instruction that meets the needs of each student. As just one example, using “picture cues” could be one part of a holistic and effective instructional approach for certain students, particularly multilingual learners, but it would be explicitly prohibited in instruction under these bills as currently drafted.

We know, as educators, that one-size-fits-all approaches are not the answer to addressing gaps in reading and literacy skills. Legislating in a specific manner how educators must teach and how students must learn is deeply problematic given that education is not static, and in this instance, doing so could deny many students access to the literacy instruction that could most effectively help them. Curriculum and instructional decisions should be made at the local level. Educators have also been clear that what we need to most effectively support our students are more resources, including funds for districts to hire more reading specialists, special education teachers and librarians.

We need your help in urging legislators to listen to educators on literacy by continuing to invest in our public schools and opposing mandated, one-size-fits-all approaches to literacy curriculum and instruction. Please email your senator and representative right away and urge them to listen to public school educators, the experts on literacy. Please also consider calling your legislators to follow up on your email. You can find their phone numbers by clicking here.