Lynn resident urges school committee to back 'Right to Read' literacy bill

Summary

Denisa Lopez, a Lynn reading specialist, told the Lynn School Committee she supports Massachusetts' Right to Read legislation, saying systematic phonics-based instruction improves literacy and reduces the need for private tutoring; she urged the district to endorse the bill and asked residents to contact their state senator.

Denisa Lopez, a resident of Lynn and a reading specialist for 15 years, asked the Lynn School Committee to support Massachusetts' Right to Read legislation, praising Representative Sean Reed’s vote to advance the bill and noting that 30 states have adopted similar policies.

"The policies outlined in this bill will dramatically improve literacy outcomes for our students," Lopez told the committee during the open-mic public comment period, citing examples from Mississippi, Louisiana, and local Massachusetts districts she said have made the transition to structured literacy.

Lopez said the proposed methods teach students to decode and spell systematically, improve attendance and engagement, reduce disruptive behavior, and ease the financial burden on families who might otherwise pay for private tutoring. She asked the committee to advocate to state senators for a "yes" vote on the bill.

The committee did not take action on the public comment itself; the remarks were recorded during the open-mic portion of the meeting. The district later highlighted local literacy initiatives in its program update to the committee.