California Moves to Transform Literacy Crisis with Landmark $200 Million Science of Reading Investment
Last updated:
California is poised to revolutionize its approach to teaching children how to read with historic legislation awaiting Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature that would require evidence-based phonics instruction statewide and invest $200 million in teacher training. Assembly Bill 1454, which passed both chambers of the legislature unanimously, aims to address the state’s chronic literacy crisis where only 31% of fourth graders currently read at grade level.
Historic Bipartisan Support for Evidence-Based Reading Reform
The landmark legislation, authored by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and Assemblymembers Al Muratsuchi and Blanca Rubio, received unprecedented bipartisan support with a 75-0 vote in the Assembly and 38-0 in the Senate. AB 1454 would require the State Board of Education to create an approved list of instructional materials aligned with the science of reading—a research-based approach emphasizing phonics, vocabulary, and foundational reading skills. The bill specifically addresses California’s English learner population, which comprises 18% of the state’s 5.8 million K-12 students, requiring that all materials and training address their unique needs. Governor Newsom has already allocated $200 million in the 2025-26 state budget for the professional development envisioned in the legislation.
California’s literacy challenge is stark: only 30% of Black children and 41% of Latino children read proficiently by third grade, compared to 57% of white students. The state ranks below 36 other states in fourth-grade reading proficiency and has one of the nation’s largest achievement gaps between low-income and affluent students. California also has the lowest adult literacy rate in the United States at 76.9%. The legislation represents a significant shift from California’s historically decentralized approach to reading instruction. Previous efforts to mandate science of reading instruction faced strong opposition from teachers’ unions and some advocacy groups, but AB 1454 gained support by providing districts with flexibility in material selection and making state-funded training optional rather than mandatory.
Author Quote"
This legislation represents a watershed moment for California’s education system, finally aligning reading instruction with decades of cognitive research on how the brain actually learns to read.
"
Proven Model with National Implications
What makes this approach particularly promising is its proven track record in other states. Michigan, which is implementing a similar $87 million science of reading initiative, has already begun seeing improvements in student outcomes. Their systematic approach includes state-approved materials, comprehensive teacher training, and evidence-based interventions for struggling readers. The California legislation’s emphasis on English learners is especially crucial. These students need structured approaches to develop both foundational reading skills and English language proficiency simultaneously. When implemented effectively, phonics-based instruction can actually accelerate literacy development for multilingual learners by providing clear, systematic pathways to decoding English text.
Key Takeaways:
1
Unanimous legislative support: AB 1454 passed 75-0 in Assembly and 38-0 in Senate, showing unprecedented bipartisan commitment to literacy reform
2
$200 million state investment: Governor Newsom has already allocated funding in 2025-26 budget for comprehensive teacher professional development
3
Crisis-level literacy rates: Only 30% of Black children and 41% of Latino children read proficiently by third grade in California
Implementation and Future Impact
For districts across California, implementation will begin with the State Board of Education’s creation of approved materials lists, followed by widespread teacher professional development funded by the state’s $200 million investment. Districts will have the option to select from state-approved materials or demonstrate that their current materials align with evidence-based methods. The replication potential is significant. States like Mississippi have transformed their literacy outcomes by implementing comprehensive science of reading policies, moving from among the nation’s worst to above-average reading performance. California’s investment scale—potentially the largest state commitment to literacy reform in recent history—could serve as a model for other states facing similar challenges.
Author Quote"
The emphasis on English learners is particularly crucial—when implemented effectively, phonics-based instruction can actually accelerate literacy development for multilingual learners by providing clear, systematic pathways to decoding English text.
"
This historic legislation demonstrates how sustained advocacy and research-based policy can create transformational change in education. California’s embrace of the science of reading reflects a broader national movement toward evidence-based literacy instruction that prioritizes what actually works for children’s developing brains. The key to success will be sustained implementation support, ongoing teacher training, and systematic progress monitoring. For more insights on educational innovation and implementation strategies, explore our https://learningsuccess.ai/membership/all-access/”>All Access Program.
