HARRISBURG – The PA Senate Education Committee approved a bipartisan measure to ensure all PA children are reading proficiently by the end of third grade. Senate Bill 700 would use a three-pronged approach to improve early literacy in PA. First, it would bolster reading instruction with evidence-based reading curricula and ensure educators receive the proper training on how to use that curriculum in the classroom. Second, it would identify struggling readers via universal screening within the first 30 days of school. Finally, schools and educators would use screening data to implement intervention plans to prevent children from falling behind. Only one-third of PA students are proficient in reading, and one in five American adults struggle to read basic sentences. The bill moves to the full PA Senate.
