Walters: California's reading reforms drive push for better math skills in early grades

"Reading comprehension among California's fourth-graders ranked 37th among the states in the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress. Just 29% of the state's students showed proficiency, down two percentage points from 2022. Raising reading achievement is vital because it is the precursor to all other forms of learning."

"Assembly Bill 1454 requires the state to provide training for teachers and instructional materials centered on phonics, or the science of reading, to use its current name. It would still allow local schools and their teachers to use other methods."

"SB 1067 would require local school districts to screen primary school students for difficulty in math skills as a first step toward a statewide effort to upgrade instruction and comprehension. California is facing a real and urgent math achievement crisis, and we cannot afford to wait."

California enacted Assembly Bill 1454 to address severely low reading proficiency among public school students by promoting phonics-based instruction and providing teacher training. The legislation was prompted by alarming test results showing only 29% of fourth-graders demonstrated reading proficiency, ranking the state 37th nationally. While the bill stops short of mandating phonics to accommodate educators favoring discredited methods like whole language, it requires the state to provide phonics-centered training and materials. Reading proficiency is foundational to all learning, and California's low reading scores correlate with equally poor mathematics performance. State Senator Akilah Weber Pierson introduced Senate Bill 1067 to address the math crisis through student screening and improved instruction.

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