Alaska Passes Landmark Reading Legislation

“Learning to read by third grade is a critical predictor of future success in school and in life. Alaska has taken a major step toward ensuring every child leaves third grade with a strong foundation of literacy.  
 
I want to congratulate Gov. Mike Dunleavy for championing this transformative legislation and thank Sens. Tom Begich, Shelley Hughes, Roger Holland and Reps. Chris Tuck and Mike Cronk for their leadership on this landmark bipartisan policy achievement. 

Alaska is fortunate to have leaders like Commissioner Michael Johnson and Board of Education member Bob Griffin, as well as the staff at the Alaska Policy Forum who have worked for years to elevate literacy education.”

The Alaska Reads Act provides a comprehensive literacy policy for the state. Key provisions will: 

• Train teachers statewide on research-backed reading practices and provide reading specialists to support their work in the classroom.  
• Provide an early literacy screening tool to help teachers identify students with reading difficulties in grades K-3. 
• Ensure parents receive timely notification of any reading difficulties and equip them with tools to support reading at home. 

• Provide more intensive reading interventions and progress monitoring students who struggle to learn to read.