California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 1454, marking a significant shift in how children in the state learn to read. This legislation is the result of a five-year effort to improve literacy instruction and is part of the Golden State Literacy Plan. The new law focuses on evidence-based reading instruction, particularly phonics, and provides training for elementary school teachers.
The California State Board of Education will adopt evidence-based literacy textbooks for first through eighth-grade classrooms. Governor Newsom emphasized the importance of strong reading skills, stating, “Literacy is the pathway to success — all of California’s kids deserve to discover the joys and benefits of reading.” The state has allocated $480 million in the 2025-26 budget to support literacy instruction, including $200 million for teacher training.
The law also mandates that school districts screen kindergarten through second-grade students for reading difficulties, including dyslexia. This approach aims to follow the success of states like Mississippi, which improved its national fourth-grade reading scores significantly…