California Marks Historic Milestone with Unanimous Science of Reading Legislation
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California’s legislature unanimously passed historic literacy legislation AB 1454, backed by $200 million in state funding, marking the end of decades-long “reading wars” and establishing evidence-based phonics instruction as the foundation for elementary reading education. The bipartisan compromise awaits Gov. Newsom’s signature and would impact over 5.8 million K-12 students statewide.
Comprehensive Framework for Evidence-Based Reading
The legislation tackles California’s persistent reading crisis through multiple coordinated approaches. One part of the bill provides schools with state funding to train elementary school teachers on how to teach reading through evidence-based instruction, to which Newsom pledged $200 million in the 2025-26 state budget earlier this year. The bill would require the State Board of Education to adopt a list of new English language instructional materials aligned with evidence-based reading methods. Schools must choose from when updating course materials or self-certify that their materials align with evidence-based methods. Additionally, AB 1454 would require the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing to include training on evidence-based literacy instruction for reading specialists and administrators.
The unanimous passage represents a remarkable political achievement after years of contentious debate. While past efforts to implement evidence-based reading standards in California have failed to garner critical support — including a former bill by Rubio, AB 2222 — the California Teachers Association has been a vocal supporter of AB 1454, which gives school districts more flexibility. Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas called for an agreement on how to train teachers in reading instruction; when he didn’t get it, he pressured both sides to reach a deal. The compromise legislation makes teacher training voluntary rather than mandatory, a key concession that brought opposing sides together.
Author Quote"
This represents exactly the kind of evidence-based policy approach that creates meaningful educational change, balancing research-backed practices with practical implementation considerations.
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Statewide Implementation Challenges and Opportunities
About 80% of districts don’t use curricula that’s focused on phonics, according to research by the California Reading Coalition. This means the majority of California’s school districts will need to evaluate their current approaches and potentially make significant changes to materials and instruction. California’s reading scores were steadily climbing before the pandemic, but fell during remote learning and have stalled since then. Almost 60% of third graders weren’t reading at grade level last year, with some student groups, including Black and low-income students, lagging even further behind.
Key Takeaways:
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$200 million investment: State budget includes comprehensive funding for teacher training in evidence-based literacy instruction
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Unanimous legislative support: AB 1454 passed Senate 38-0 and Assembly 75-0 after years of contentious debate
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60% literacy gap: Nearly 60% of California third graders currently read below grade level, with achievement gaps widest for Black and Hispanic students
National Model for Evidence-Based Policy
The legislation specifically addresses English learner needs, a critical consideration in a state where multilingual students comprise about 18% of the state’s 5.8 million K-12 students. Marshall Tuck, CEO of EdVoice, said AB 1454 will uplift academic outcomes for millions of children in California. “Transforming California’s education system requires a coordinated approach rooted in proven solutions,” Tuck said. “The overwhelming support from both the Legislature and Governor’s administration for evidence-based reading instruction demonstrates California’s commitment to bold change, so all children have access to the quality education they need and future opportunities they deserve.”
Author Quote"
The voluntary nature of teacher training acknowledges that sustainable pedagogical shifts require educator buy-in rather than top-down mandates.
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This represents exactly the kind of evidence-based policy approach that creates meaningful educational change. The legislation balances research-backed practices with practical implementation considerations, provides adequate funding for professional development, and maintains flexibility for local adaptation. For districts nationwide watching California’s approach, this model demonstrates how states can move beyond ideological debates toward collaborative solutions that prioritize student outcomes. The key will be sustained implementation support and ongoing evaluation to ensure the legislation achieves its literacy improvement goals. For more insights on educational innovation and implementation strategies, explore our https://learningsuccess.ai/membership/all-access/”>All Access Program.
