By Bob Katzen
The Senate 38-0, approved a bill that would require Massachusetts school districts to select kindergarten through 3rd grade reading curricula that meet guidelines set by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) based upon evidence-based literacy instruction and featuring phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension and phonemic awareness. School districts would have until the start of the 2027-2028 school year to adopt a K-3 literacy curriculum that meets the new framework, or to secure approval from DESE for a waiver.
The House has already approved its own version of the measure and the Senate version now goes to the House for consideration. A House-Senate conference committee will likely hammer out a compromise version of the legislation.
Supporters said that schools would have three DESE-approved options to implement the new curriculum requirement: utilize a complete curriculum that is made available for free by DESE; use a curriculum from a list that meets evidence-based criteria; or receive a waiver authorizing the use of another curriculum that meets the same standards but had not been previously reviewed and approved by DESE.
They noted that the bill makes sure parents and schools engage in constructive communication about student progress. They said it requires twice-yearly assessments to gauge every young learner’s reading progress and to screen for dyslexia and requires schools to contact a parent or guardian within 30 days if a student has fallen significantly behind and propose a response if that is the case.
“Today is a monumental moment for children across our state because we are passing my bill through the Senate to ensure all our students learn essential literacy skills,” said sponsor Sen. Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett). “We can all agree that teaching our kids to read and write is one of the most important skills we can instill in them, but far too many children in our schools are not meeting basic literacy benchmarks. Working with our teachers and administrators, this legislation will institute evidence-based curriculum to ensure all our students’ success in early literacy and give them the bright futures they deserve.”
“It is unacceptable that less than half of young students in Massachusetts are proficient in reading at their grade level,” said Sen. Jason Lewis (D-Winchester), Senate Chair of the Committee on Education. “This important legislation ensures that educators use evidence-based early literacy curricula that are backed by science while leaving schools the option to decide what curriculum is best for their students and teachers. Strengthening student literacy through evidence-based instruction is a bipartisan issue with decades of scientific research backing it up. With the passage of this bill, the Massachusetts Senate continues its commitment to providing a high-quality education for all students across the commonwealth.”
Although no senators voted against the bill, it was not without its critics. “Curriculum mandates are an oversimplified response to a complex problem,” Massachusetts Teachers President Max Page said. “There is no proof that such mandates yield sustained success in any of the states that have passed so-called literacy laws. Massachusetts has always been a leader in education, and we should not follow misguided national trends. Having more trained reading specialists in public schools, adequate funds for school libraries and trained library staff, and high-quality professional development for educators who are given the autonomy to engage in best practices — these are the keys to success, not scripted curriculum packages.”
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)
Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes