California Passes NAACP-Supported Law To Overhaul How Students Learn To Read

California will transform its reading instruction for K-8 students following Governor Gavin Newsom's endorsement of Assembly Bill (AB) 1454. This landmark reform, initiated by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) and supported by the NAACP California-Hawaii State Conference, mandates new instructional materials and allocates funding for professional development focused on evidence-based reading methods aligned with the “science of reading.”Rivas emphasized that robust reading capabilities are essential for student success, heralding this legislation as a significant commitment to enhancing literacy in California. The implementation is backed by a $200 million investment aimed at training educators and supplying necessary resources.Furthermore, early literacy strategies are being incorporated into teacher training and curriculum, with additional funding of $250,000 designated for guidance on instructional materials aligning with AB 1454. This overhaul seeks to address literacy disparities, particularly among Black and Latino students, thereby preventing systemic educational inequities.