Early literacy serves as the foundation for a successful academic journey for every child. Its significance cannot be overstated, as students need reading comprehension skills to master concepts and topics in every subject. Without these skills, students will struggle not only in reading, but also in math, science, social studies and more.
This year, 10 states took action to pass policies that ensure early literacy is prioritized in their K-12 systems.
The State of Early Literacy in the United States
To understand the urgency of recent legislative initiatives, it is crucial to realize the current state of early literacy in the United States.
Recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores and literacy statistics reveal disconcerting trends. In 2022, NAEP reading scores fell across the board, with scores for eighth graders dropping to their lowest level in a decade. These scores illustrate the urgency of the literacy crisis before us and the pressing need for comprehensive literacy policies at the state level.
Low literacy skills hinder academic achievement and are linked to myriad other challenges, from reduced employment opportunities to increased likelihood of incarceration. The World Literacy Foundation reports that low literacy can also contribute to lower self-esteem. These ramifications can reverberate throughout an individual’s life, affecting their socioeconomic mobility and overall well-being. States can overcome this by championing policies that address the root causes of low literacy rates and provide a robust framework to support every student’s educational success.
A Closer Look at States’ 2023 Early Literacy Initiatives
In 2023, 10 states enacted early literacy initiatives that are helping to reshape the educational landscape.
- Arkansas passed Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’s landmark legislation: the 2023 Arkansas LEARNS Act. This comprehensive legislation requires teacher training in the science of reading, early literacy proficiency before students enter the fourth grade and additional supports for struggling students. Before passage of the Arkansas LEARNS Act, only 35 percent of Arkansas third graders were reading on grade level. Supported by these new, science-based literacy interventions, students in the Natural State will have every opportunity to become strong readers.
- Florida legislators continued the state’s legacy of strong education reforms by passing new reading and math interventions for struggling students in 2023. Under the new legislation, schools must administer reading screeners to identify struggling students and those with characteristics of dyslexia. Florida also banned “three-cueing,” an ineffective instructional method, in favor of research-based practices known as the “science of reading.”
- Georgia passed its first comprehensive early literacy law in 2023, the Georgia Early Literacy Act, with bipartisan support. This bold legislation requires districts to adopt high-quality curriculum and instructional materials aligned to the science of reading, develop individual reading plans for students and train teachers in the science of reading.
- Indiana lawmakers enacted new early literacy legislation in 2023 that bans the three-cueing instructional method while requiring instruction rooted in the science of reading. The legislation also funds new literacy coach roles, teacher professional development and science of reading-aligned curriculum.
- New Mexico approved new funding to assist districts with the purchase of high-quality instructional materials aligned with the science of reading in 2023. This investment will help districts deliver effective, research-aligned instruction to improve outcomes for all students.
- Ohio invested $160 million in early literacy in 2023 to fund high-quality instructional materials, science of reading-based teacher professional development and new literacy coach roles. The state also banned the use of three-cueing instructional materials.
- South Carolina strengthened its early literacy policy by banning three-cueing in literacy curriculum in 2023. The state also allocated $39 million for literacy training aligned to the science of reading for teachers.
- Virginia delegates fortified the Virginia Literacy Act in 2023 to ensure that more than 470,000 students in grades 4-8 receive evidence-based literacy instruction aligned with the science of reading. The legislation includes critical reading preparation for future teachers and professional development for current teachers, all connected to the science of reading, while also introducing a comprehensive approach to screenings and interventions for struggling readers.
- West Virginia passed the Third Grade Success Act in 2023, a comprehensive law designed to equip more than 68,000 K-3 students with evidence-based reading and mathematics instruction. This initiative uses literacy screeners, individualized reading plans, teacher training and high-quality instructional practices to enhance students’ literacy skills, recover lost learning and bridge achievement gaps by the end of third grade.
- Wisconsin enacted a comprehensive literacy bill in 2023 that banned the ineffective three-cueing method, allocated $50 million for teacher training in the science of reading and implemented tools for regular student assessments. These measures will ensure students receive personalized reading plans and targeted remedial services to improve literacy outcomes and that teachers are equipped with the knowledge and tools to support all students.
Early Literacy Success Stories from the States
Landmark legislation to improve early literacy outcomes was enacted in Florida in 2002 under Gov. Jeb Bush. At the time, Florida students ranked at the bottom nationally, with one-third of third graders unable to read on grade level. Florida kicked off an early literacy revolution with legislation that eliminated social promotion and required grade-level proficiency for students to enter the fourth grade. Between 2002 and 2015, Florida students had a remarkable 13-point increase on the NAEP reading test, equivalent to an improvement of one-and-a-half grade levels.
Following Florida’s lead, Mississippi enacted the Literacy-Based Promotion Act in 2013, emphasizing early identification of reading difficulties with reading screeners as well as the use of targeted interventions and third-grade retention similar to Florida’s. Since 2013, Mississippi has climbed from 49th to 21st in fourth-grade reading.
Tennessee took similar actions in 2021 with the Literacy Success Act, which included aligning curriculum to the science of reading, implementing academic interventions and enacting a third-grade retention policy for non-proficient students. These changes led to a substantial increase in third-grade ELA proficiency rates to 40% in 2022-23, marking the highest rates since the standards were revised in 2017.
Despite the demonstrated successes from trailblazing states like Florida and Mississippi, the path to legislative action is not without challenges. To pass comprehensive early literacy policies, lawmakers regularly face hurdles ranging from budget constraints to opposition to third-grade retention policies.
The notable outcomes from these three states offer proof points for other states considering advancing early literacy policies grounded in the science of reading.
Arkansas, for instance, has implemented a comprehensive literacy initiative that included components similar to Tennessee’s Literacy Success Act. West Virginia applied lessons learned from Mississippi to improve student outcomes in both reading and mathematics. Early literacy success stories from across the nation underscore the transformative impact of early literacy policies and serve as examples to other states grappling with similar challenges.
Looking Ahead to 2024 and Beyond
As we support the improvement of literacy policies in states across the nation, it’s clear that the impetus for change is not just about enacting legislation. It is about recognizing literacy as the linchpin for a lifetime of opportunity and fulfillment—and the real possibility of eradicating illiteracy through concerted, science-based policymaking.
The wave of early literacy laws in 2023 marks a promising milestone in the quest for educational excellence. States’ commitments to addressing the root causes of low literacy rates and to supporting struggling readers are a source of encouragement for the future.
It’s also evident that early literacy is not just an educational issue. It is a societal imperative. Early literacy policies represent progress toward a future where every child, regardless of background or circumstance, has the opportunity to unlock their full potential through the power of reading.
The call to action is clear: State lawmakers must stay informed, engaged and proactive in shaping the future of education.
By collaborating with organizations like ExcelinEd in Action, lawmakers can leverage resources, expertise and strategies to navigate the complexities of early literacy policy. It is through such efforts that the transformative impact of early literacy laws can be maximized, creating a more equitable future for generations to come.
To read more posts from this series, visit From Policy to Action: A Series Looking Back at 2023 Education Legislation.
References
- ABC News – Math and Reading Scores Decline for 13-Year-Olds: https://abcnews.go.com/US/math-reading-scores-decline-13-year-olds-report/story?id=100268256
- Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation – Early Literacy Connection to Incarceration: https://governorsfoundation.org/gelf-articles/early-literacy-connection-to-incarceration/
- Arkansas Department of Education – Arkansas Learns: https://learns.ade.arkansas.gov/
- ExcelinEd – Fact Sheet: Three Cueing Does Not Teach Children To Read: https://excelined.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/ExcelinEd_FactSheet_ThreeCueingDoesNotTeachChildrenToRead.pdf
- National Center for Education Statistics – Arkansas State Profile: https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/profiles/stateprofile/overview/AR?cti=PgTab_OT&chort=1&sub=MAT&sj=AR&fs=Grade&st=MN&year=2019R3&sg=Gender%3A%20Male%20vs.%20Female&sgv=Difference&ts=Single%20Year&tss=2019R3&sfj=NP
- Lexia Learning – Sound It Out: The Shifting Landscape of Literacy from Three Cueing to Science-Based Reading: https://www.lexialearning.com/blog/sound-it-out-the-shifting-landscape-of-literacy-from-three-cueing-to-science-based-reading
- Georgia Department of Education – Literacy: https://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Curriculum-and-Instruction/Pages/Literacy.aspx
- Virginia Department of Education – Virginia Literacy Act: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/k-12-standards-instruction/english-reading-literacy/literacy/virginia-literacy-act
- ExcelinEd in Action – Building Strong Foundations: West Virginia Invests in Third Grade Success in 2023: https://excelinedinaction.org/2023/12/05/building-strong-foundations-west-virginia-invests-in-third-grade-success-in-2023/
- A Florida Promise – The Florida Story: https://afloridapromise.org/the-florida-story/
- National Center for Education Statistics – Florida State Profile: https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/profiles/stateprofile/overview/FL?cti=PgTab_OT&chort=1&sub=MAT&sj=FL&fs=Grade&st=MN&year=2013R3&sg=Gender%3A%20Male%20vs.%20Female&sgv=Difference&ts=Single%20Year&tss=2013R3-2013R3&sfj=NP
- Magnolia Tribune – Mississippi’s Literacy Success: A Testament to the Power of Sound Public Policy and Effective Implementation: https://magnoliatribune.com/2023/10/29/mississippis-literacy-success-a-testament-to-the-power-of-sound-public-policy-effective-implementation/
- Tennessee Department of Education – Tennessee Makes Historic Gains in Third Grade Reading: https://www.tn.gov/education/news/2023/5/22/tennessee-makes-historic-gains-in-third-grade-reading–offers-strong-support-for-students-.html
- Early Literacy Matters: https://earlyliteracymatters.org/
