32 States passed or proposed laws mandating the science of reading – but not WA.

July 2023 — This Education Week article explains which states passed or proposed ‘science of reading’ laws requiring schools to teach kids to read with research-vetted methods and what is covered by each law. Washington State does not have pending legislation, even though most of our schools still rely on a ‘kids teach themselves’ theory known as balanced literacy.

This is why 48% of 3rd-graders read proficiently on the 2023 SBAC.

We do need a law to ensure schools and teacher training programs implement the best-practice instruction we have known about for 50 years. However, we should not bother with a law until the WA Office of the Superintendent for Public Instruction (OSPI) is empowered to enforce that law and provided with the resources to re-train, coach, and support 75,000 teachers.

95% of us should be reading proficiently. Teachers need over 100 hours of class time plus intensive coaching and support to master science of reading instruction.

Our Plan: 1. Connect struggling students with effective instructors, 2. Train community members, teachers, parents, and caregivers, 3. Develop a comprehensive legislative strategy, 4. Raise awareness public awareness.