SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Assembly Bill 1454, jointly authored by Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas), Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance), and Assemblymember Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) – passed the full Assembly floor with a unanimous 75-0 vote – a rare and resounding bipartisan show of support.
California’s reading achievement gaps by both income and race are among the widest in the nation. Only 4 in 10 third graders read at grade level, with outcomes even worse for English learners and low-income Black and Latino students. AB 1454 directly addresses these disparities by equipping California’s elementary school teachers with effective training on reading instruction, and ensuring that evidence-based instructional materials used in classrooms are aligned to decades of research on how children learn to read.
AB 1454 also includes updates to administrator preparation programs, so principals and school leaders can support strong literacy practices in their school communities.
“Learning to read is life-changing for a child,” said Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas). “And strong reading skills are the gateway to academic success, lifelong confidence and opportunity. With this legislation, we take a clear and a necessary step toward ensuring every child in California learns to read, and read well. This bill is supported by a broad and growing coalition all united in one belief: That we can and must do better for our students.”
Assemblymember Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) said: “I am so grateful for the support of my colleagues who continue prioritizing early literacy, especially as we head into a season of tough budget decisions. As a former teacher and an English learner, I’ve seen firsthand the life-changing power of investing in our students – and the lifelong consequences they face when they don’t get the instruction they need. AB 1454, if fully funded, will put California on a successful path to literacy. By equipping teachers with effective training and students with research-aligned materials, we would be creating the conditions for millions of children to become strong readers, confident learners and future leaders.”
“Today’s vote brings us one step closer to providing every child in California with effective reading instruction and futures filled with opportunity,” said Marshall Tuck, CEO of EdVoice. “We’re seeing what’s possible when advocates, families, teachers, and policymakers work together to solve big challenges. We’re thankful to have champions like Governor Newsom, Speaker Rivas, Assemblymember Rubio, and Assemblymember Muratsuchi leading the charge on this vital issue for California’s children. This is progress in action: we’re moving from talking about the literacy crisis to taking meaningful steps to address it – and EdVoice is proud to be a positive force in moving this issue forward.”
If enacted, AB 1454 would:
Require the State Board of Education (SBE) to adopt a new list of English language arts/English language development instructional materials that aligns with evidence-based means of teaching literacy. Local Education Agencies must follow the SBE’s guidance when updating materials or certify that the materials they choose are aligned with SBE’s criteria.
Provide funding for TK-5 literacy teachers to be trained in evidence-based literacy practices using a list adopted by the SBE and published by the California Department of Education.
Update standards for administrator preparation programs to include training on effective means of teaching literacy so that school leaders can better support their staff.
AB 1454 is co-authored by Assemblymembers Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay), Mia Bonta (D-Oakland), Josh Hoover (R-Folsom), and Dr. Darshana Patel (D-San Diego County). The bill is the result of months of tireless advocacy and a meaningful compromise following the introduction of a similar early literacy bill earlier this year, AB 1121 (Rubio), which was co-sponsored by EdVoice.
As the bill has progressed through the California Assembly, the momentum for AB 1454 has continued to build. Dozens of education advocates from across the state have come together – including EdVoice, Decoding Dyslexia CA, the NAACP CA/HI State Conference, Families In Schools, and others – to push for a change on how California students learn to read. Currently, 65 advocacy organizations across the state have signed on in support of AB 1454.
AB 1454 now heads to the Senate for consideration. For more information, visit www.CaliforniaKidsRead.org.
