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Education Policy committee gives favorable report to bill on age‑appropriate reading instruction through 12th grade
Summary
The Education Policy committee gave a favorable report to a bill requiring a three‑pronged, age‑appropriate reading curriculum through grade 12, emphasizing local flexibility and early‑grade placement of instruction.
The Education Policy committee gave a favorable report to a bill aimed at expanding age‑appropriate reading instruction through 12th grade, after members said the measure supports whole‑child development and allows local flexibility.
Committee members said the bill uses a three‑pronged framework that may be presented in an age‑appropriate manner. Representative Baker said she "agree[d] with others" and supported the bill as aligned with efforts toward "the total development of a child," noting local districts would have flexibility about implementation. A committee member summarized an implementation requirement as "you gotta do at least twice," referring to a minimum number of required instructional activities in the bill.
Supporters during the discussion stressed introducing the material before high school. Representative Smith said the instruction should come earlier than senior year so students internalize it before adulthood. Representative Ross urged considering incentives for schools to adopt the approach rather than mandates, citing prior success with the science‑of‑reading effort when incentives were used.
A motion to give the bill a favorable report was made and seconded. Committee members voted "aye" and the bill was given a favorable report.
The committee then moved on to the next agenda item and returned the gavel to the chair.
