Decoding Dyslexia CA

Tag: early literacy matters

  • AB 2222 is Dead; DDCA Continues to Fight for the Right to Read

    Assembly Education Chair, Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) did not schedule AB 2222 for comprehensive early literacy legislation to be heard by the Assembly Education Committee. The deadline for scheduling the hearing was 5 pm Thursday, April 11. This means our bill is dead without even the benefit of being heard in Committee.

    It is very disappointing that it came down to two legislators (Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) and Assembly Education Chair Muratsuchi) who decided not to let our bill move forward for a vote in Assembly Education.

    This is the EdSource article that was released today on AB 2222. Please take a moment to post a comment at the end of the EdSource article.

    The decision came in the face of tremendous support for AB 2222, built in just over two months. AB 2222 had:

    • 69 supporting organizations 
    • 16 bi-partisan co-authors
    • More than 1,000 individual letters of support
    • 41 letters from school district leaders representing 25 school districts serving more than 300,000 students

    The organization, Education Trust-West, took a support if amended position. The bill faced opposition from 4 organizations:  California Teachers Association, California Association for Bilingual Education,  Californians Together, and Loyola Marymount University Center for Equity for English Learners.

    We knew from the introduction of AB 2222 that passing comprehensive early literacy legislation in a significant state deficit year was going to be a challenge.  DDCA is committed to continue pursuing this legislation next legislative session and beyond if necessary and hope you will join us!

    Special thanks to Assemblymember Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) for authoring AB 2222 and for her fearless advocacy to improve literacy outcomes for all California kids.

    We are grateful to the following 69 organizations and bill co-sponsors for their support for AB 2222:

    Organization Letters of Support on Record:
    Decoding Dyslexia CA (co-sponsor)
    EdVoice (co-sponsor)
    Families in Schools (co-sponsor)
    21st Century Alliance
    Alliance College-Ready Public Schools Foundation
    Black Parallel School Board
    Boon Philanthropy Inc.
    Boys & Girls Club-Hollywood
    California Catholic Conference
    California State Parent Teacher Association
    California Reading Coalition
    California Education Justice Alliance
    California Youth Services
    Charles Armstrong School
    Chico Unified School District
    Children’s Defense Fund-California
    Democrats for Education Reform (DFER)
    Disability Rights California
    Disability Rights and Education Defense Fund
    Dyslexia Training Institute
    Educators for  Excellence-Los Angeles
    Equitable Ed Advocates
    Equitable Literacy For All
    Eye to Eye
    Families in Action for Quality Education
    Fourth District PTA
    Fulcrum
    Glean Education
    GP II Foundation
    Hawley Special Education Advocacy
    Innovate Public Schools
    KIPP Bay Area Public Schools
    KIPP So-Cal Public Schools
    International Dyslexia Association – Los Angeles
    International Dyslexia Association – Northern California
    International Dyslexia Association – SoCal TriCounties Branch
    Learning Disabilities Association of California
    Learning Rights Law Center
    Lighthouse Community Public Schools
    Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
    Mt. Diablo Unified School District Community Advisory Committee for Special Education
    NAACP California Hawaii State Conference
    National Council On Teacher Quality
    National Parents Union
    North Bridge Academy
    North Region SELPA Community Advisory Committee
    Oakland Literacy Coalition
    Our Voice: Communities for Quality Education
    Palomar Council Parent Teacher Association
    Peralta District Parent Teacher Association
    Project Second Chance, Inc.
    Reading for Berkeley
    Right to Read Project
    Sacramento Literacy Foundation
    San Francisco/Second District PTA
    San Francisco Unified School District Community Advisory Committee for Special Education
    San Ramon Valley Council of PTAs
    San Ramon Valley Unified School District SELPA
    Santa Barbara Reading Coalition
    Seaside Elementary School PTA
    Smart Justice California
    San Francisco Parent Coalition
    The Dyslexia Project
    The Oakland REACH
    The Reading League California
    Third District PTA
    Thirty-Second District PTA
    Thirty-Third District PTA
    Walnut Grove PTA

     

     

  • New Legislation Aims to Close California’s Reading Gap

    Early literacy bill calls for an evidence-based approach to teaching children how to read that adheres to the science of reading.

    It’s time California ensures that its children can read proficiently by the end of 3rd grade.


    On February 7, 2024, Assemblymember Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) introduced a comprehensive early literacy bill, Assembly Bill 2222 (AB 2222) to ensure an evidence-based approach to teaching all of California’s elementary school students how to read and address the deep inequities in reading achievement for California’s most vulnerable students. The bill has bipartisan support from 13 co-authors. Decoding Dyslexia CA is co-sponsoring this legislation with EdVoice and Families In Schools.

    Reading is the gateway to knowledge and future opportunities for students. Unfortunately, California is facing a literacy crisis in part due to ineffective early literacy instruction. Currently, only 4 in 10 third grade students are at grade level in English language arts. Nearly 70% of 3rd-grade students from low-income communities are not meeting state standards for English Language Arts, and the vast majority of those falling behind are disproportionately Black and Latino children, English learners, and students with disabilities. It is critical that we address these deep inequities and are grateful to Assemblymember Rubio for introducing legislation that will set up both students and educators for success. We are proud to co-sponsor AB 2222 and will be calling on our membership and community to help advocate for its passage. 

    AB 2222 focuses on three specific priorities with overarching accountability and transparency measures:

    1. Access to TK-8 literacy instructional materials that adhere to the science of reading;
    2. Professional development and training for current educators in evidence-based literacy instruction; and
    3. Improved accountability in teacher preparation programs related to new literacy teaching standards and support for professional development for teacher preparation faculty.

    Adhering to the science of reading means following evidence from a large body of interdisciplinary research that guides effective classroom practices benefitting all students, including English learners and those at risk of or with dyslexia. Evidence-based practices include systematic and explicit instruction focused on phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, oral language development, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing.

    CALL TO ACTION
    To show support for AB 2222, we urge you to:

    1. Sign our petition to encourage your state legislators to support AB 2222
    2. Click here to learn more about the bill
    3. Signup for DDCA emails to stay up-to-date on the bill’s journey through CA’s legislature
    4. Explore CaliforniaKidsRead.org for more information, resources and latest news on the bill

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    DDCA is pleased to team with  EdVoice Institute, California Reading Coalition, Families in Schools and 21st Century Alliance in the newly-formed California Early Literacy Coalition. 

    This California Early Literacy Coalition helps to influence changes to state policy to ensure all California’s children achieve literacy before the end of elementary school.  Please read our Early Literacy Policy Brief for more information.

    #CaliforniaKidsRead  #AB2222  #EarlyLiteracy  #EarlyLiteracyMatters  #ScienceOfReading

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