Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Committee Hears Broad Support for K–4 Structured Literacy Bill, Questions on Funding and Certification
Summary
The Early Learning K–12 Education Committee heard hours of testimony in support of ESHB 12-95, which would require evidence-aligned literacy curricula and K–4 comprehensive programs when districts update curriculum. Supporters cited improved district results and equity; educators and unions raised concerns about implementation costs and added certificate requirements.
The state Early Learning K–12 Education Committee on Feb. 25 heard extensive testimony in favor of engrossed substitute House Bill 12-95, legislation that would require school districts that update literacy curricula after 2027 to adopt evidence-aligned materials and implement comprehensive K–4 literacy programs.
Elena Becker, committee staff, summarized the bill’s main provisions: districts that update literacy curricula must meet five criteria for evidence alignment; adopted curricula must be paired with comprehensive programs addressing language comprehension, phonological awareness, orthographic knowledge, family engagement strategies and screening for at‑risk readers; the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) must revise endorsement standards, and teacher preparation programs must incorporate those standards within two years of adoption. Becker said the fiscal note on the most recent substitute shows nonzero…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
