Tennessee Lawmakers Act Quickly to Help Struggling Readers

Statement from Patricia Levesque, Executive Director for ExcelinEd in Action, on Tennessee legislation to help struggling readers. 

“As Tennessee families and students rebound from learning setbacks brought on by the pandemic, state lawmakers have laid critical groundwork for continued learning by prioritizing early literacy.
 
“Being able to read at grade level is the foundation for all learning. By adopting Gov. Bill Lee’s strong early literacy proposals, Tennessee families and educators will have the support necessary for meeting the challenges that 2021 and the future will bring.
 
“We thank Gov. Bill Lee, Lt. Governor Randy McNally, Speaker Cameron Sexton and Majority Leaders Jack Johnson and William Lamberth for their leadership and support of this timely and important legislation.”

SB 7003 and HB 7004 will help Tennessee’s K-3 students by putting many proven policies into action, including:

• Providing early intervention for struggling readers after school and in summer learning camps.

• Creating the Tennessee Accelerated Literacy and Learning Corps to tutor students throughout the year.

• Ensuring Local Education Agencies use the proven phonics-based approach for early reading education.

• Training educators on proven practices to help early readers and providing them with continuous support.

For more information on proven early literacy policies, visit the ExcelinEd policy library.