“Before third grade you’re learning to read and after third grade you’re reading to learn,” Dowel said.
The bill up for debate Wednesday tasks boards of education with implementing a reading curriculum from a curated list of programs. Those programs would have to be evidence-based with a focus on phonics, fluency, vocabulary development, and reading fluency.
Right now the school districts get to decide what reading curriculum to use, even if it’s not research or science based.
Under the legislation school districts would need to get a waiver to opt out of a reading program.