The Senate Education Committee has approved a bipartisan bill aimed at improving early literacy among Pennsylvania children. Sponsored by Senators Devlin Robinson (R-37) and Vincent Hughes (D-7), the legislation seeks to ensure that all children in the state are reading proficiently by the end of third grade.
Senate Bill 700 proposes a three-part strategy to enhance reading skills. It includes strengthening reading instruction with evidence-based curricula, providing educators with appropriate training, and identifying struggling readers through universal screening within the first month of school. The collected data will then be used to implement intervention plans to support students who need additional help.
“Children learn to read in elementary school – and for the rest of their lives, they read to learn,” stated Robinson. “We cannot allow another generation of students to fall through the cracks. I’m glad to work closely with my colleague in true bipartisan fashion on this strategic, proven approach that puts effective tools in the hands of teachers and real hope in the hands of families.”
The urgency for such measures is underscored by statistics showing only one-third of Pennsylvania students are proficient in reading, while one-fifth of American adults struggle with basic sentences. This issue not only affects individual opportunities but also imposes an estimated $2.2 trillion annual cost on the national economy.
“Reading is fundamental, yet data shows an alarming number of students are falling behind,” said Hughes, Senate Democratic Appropriations chair. “This bipartisan legislation will give students and teachers the tools they need to take an evidence-based approach to reading and succeed. It’s a multi-pronged solution and a step in the right direction for the education of our students. It’s important that we treat the literacy epidemic with urgency to get all Pennsylvania students and their reading proficiency on the right track.”
The bill draws inspiration from successful reforms in states like Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee where similar approaches have led to improvements in literacy rates.
Following its approval by the committee, Senate Bill 700 will now proceed to be considered by the full Senate.
