A new California bill (AB 1454) will provide an estimated $250 million for professional development, credentialing, and instructional materials aligned to “evidence-based means of teaching foundational reading skills in print concepts, phonological awareness, phonics and word recognition, and fluency to all pupils, including tiered supports for pupils with reading difficulties, English learners, and pupils with exceptional needs.”
The bill does not specifically mention the Science of Reading, like most recent state reading legislation, but it does incorporate its core elements, while recognizing that different groups of learners may benefit from emphases on different methodologies.
After being amended to reflect an agreement to provide state support for instructional materials and training aligned to evidence-based reading and language development practices, the Assembly Education Committee unanimously passed the bill after a short hearing and it now has the support of the California Teachers Association and Californians Together.
Key Highlights of AB 1454:
- Professional Development for Educators: The bill mandates the California Department of Education to provide accessible professional development training for teachers, focusing on effective reading instruction strategies by September 2026.
- Alignment with State Frameworks: Training will be aligned with the state’s English Language Arts/English Language Development Framework, emphasizing integrated and designated English language development instruction, oral language development, vocabulary, background knowledge, and comprehension. In addition to training, instructional materials will also be aligned with the same elements outlined in the English Language Arts/English Language Development Framework by September 2027.
- Comprehensive Literacy Approach: By including skills related to word recognition and other essential literacy components, the bill ensures that English learners receive instruction that meets them where they are, honoring their home languages and cultures.
“Californians Together proudly advocates for policies and practices to support our state’s 1.1 million English learners,” said Martha Hernandez, executive director of Californians Together. “Literacy is fundamental to every student’s academic journey, and we recognize the role of the legislature in proposing solutions to improve literacy that uplifts the unique needs of multilingual learners and honors their home languages and cultures, which is why we are proud to support AB 1454. We appreciate Speaker Rivas’s leadership in bringing this legislation forward, and we remain committed to ensuring that any new literacy policy fully supports English learners.”
According to a statement from Californians Together, their “mission is to champion policies and practices that support California’s 1.1 million English learners. We recognize that literacy is foundational to every student’s academic journey. That’s why we welcome Assembly Bill 1454, introduced by Speaker Robert Rivas, which aims to enhance literacy instruction statewide. We commend Speaker Rivas for his leadership and steadfast commitment to supporting California’s English learners. This legislation reflects the collaborative efforts of advocates and organizations dedicated to improving literacy outcomes for all students. Californians Together will continue to monitor the progress of AB 1454 and advocate for policies that honor our state’s multilingual learners and those who serve them,”
There have been several proposals to specify how reading instruction is implemented across California schools, including AB 1121 (Blanca Rubio) and AB 1194 (Muratsuchi) this year. AB 1454 is being amended to reflect a consensus between the authors and sponsors of both those bills, which will not move forward in their current forms.