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Representative Ferrer Santiago presents bill to require reading mastery by end of third grade
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Summary
Representative Ferrer Santiago introduced House Bill 812 to establish a policy that public-school students must demonstrate reading proficiency by the end of third grade, with specified exceptions and proposed early assessments and individualized intervention plans.
Representative proposes legislation to make third-grade reading mastery a promotion requirement
Representative Ferrer Santiago presented House Bill 812 on Aug. 28, 2025, proposing a law to require that all public-school students demonstrate reading proficiency before promotion to fourth grade, with limited exceptions and a series of early assessments and individualized interventions.
Ferrer Santiago said the bill would make it public policy that students must "dominar la lectura al terminar el tercer grado" and would implement regular primary reading assessments from kindergarten through third grade to identify early learning gaps. He described the proposal's main provisions on the floor: regular reading tests, individualized reading intervention plans, support for teachers and families, and limited exceptions for students with individualized education plans, recent arrivals with less than two years of Spanish-instruction program participation, and students who pass an alternative standardized test approved by the Department of Education.
The representative cited national and U.S.-state comparisons and noted that jurisdictions that implemented early reading-intervention programs improved outcomes on a national measure. He asked colleagues from both majorities to co-sponsor and to bring the bill to the House education committee for consideration.
Floor remarks indicated the bill was newly introduced and intended for referral to the education committee; the transcript does not record a committee referral motion or a final vote on the measure during the Aug. 28 session.
Key bill features described on the floor: - Policy goal: reading mastery by end of third grade as a condition for promotion to fourth grade (with specified exceptions). - Assessment: periodic primary-reading tests from kindergarten through third grade to detect gaps early. - Intervention: individualized reading plans and interventions, plus supports for teachers and families. - Exceptions: students in special education with individualized plans, recent arrivals with less than two years in Spanish-instruction programs, and students who pass an alternative standardized assessment approved by the Department of Education.
Representative Ferrer Santiago asked that the committee of education consider the proposal; the transcript records an offer to share co-sponsorship sheets with interested colleagues.
