California Reveals Plans to Boost Literacy as 1 in 4 Struggle with Reading
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond have announced new resources to boost literacy in the state—where almost a third of adults struggle with basic reading.
In a news release last week, the California Department of Education announced the California Literacy-Biliteracy Professional Learning Pack, describing it as "a comprehensive suite of resources" designed to enhance literacy instruction and support educators across the state in improving student outcomes, particularly among younger readers.
A file photo shows a library in a school in New Jersey.
A file photo shows a library in a school in New Jersey.Why It Matters
California has one of the worst literacy rates in the country. An estimated 28 percent of adults have the lowest literacy level in English, according to the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies.
Meanwhile, the latest test results from the 2023-24 school year found that a majority of students in grades three to eight did not meet the standards for reading. Only in 11th grade did more than half of students meet or exceed state standards.
What To Know
The learning pack includes two literacy guidance documents, according to the state Department of Education.
The first is the California Literacy Roadmap's Literacy Content Blocks for English-Medium Classrooms, designed for transitional kindergarten through grade five. The blocks reflect "an intentional approach to literacy that promotes carefully sequenced initial instruction, appropriate practice and reinforcement, intervention as necessary, and meaningful application in English language arts and other content areas," the department said in the news release.
The second document is the Preschool Through Third Grade Learning Progressions for Language and Literacy Development, which outlines key developmental milestones and offer examples of "play-based, inquiry-based instruction to support early literacy in both English and students' home languages."
The department said the learning tools have been endorsed by a board coalition of experts in literacy and biliteracy instruction, including The Reading League, the California Association for Bilingual Education, and Californians Together.
What People Are Saying
California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement: "In California, we know that learning to read is the start of the pathway to success. The Literacy Roadmap highlights our multifaceted approach to improving literacy for California's students, including current and proposed initiatives.
"When added to our other investments in literacy coaches and reading specialists at high-needs schools and professional development for teachers, we are doubling down on our commitment to ensure no student falls behind in their reading."
State Superintendent Tony Thurmond said in a statement: "Literacy is foundational to lifelong learning and academic success. With this release, California takes a significant step forward in providing educators with the tools they need to foster strong literacy and biliteracy development from the earliest years of learning as we move the needle on student achievement, particularly for our youngest readers."
California Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher criticized the plan in a statement to The Center Square: "This is classic Newsom. Dress up failure in a bunch of edu-buzzwords and hope no one notices kids still can't read. There's no mention of the state's collapsing test scores. No push for real phonics-based instruction."
What's Next
The California Department of Education said educators are encouraged to incorporate the materials from the learning packs into their summer and school-year professional development plans.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Yahoo
McMahon spars with Democrats over request to cut Education Department funding
Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Wednesday defended to House members the Trump administration's request to cut 15 percent from her department's budget. McMahon at times had contentious moments with members as she emphasized the request for a $12 billion cut as President Trump wants her to carry out the federal agency's 'final mission.' 'Madam Secretary, the legacy you will be leaving is that 'I shut down the Department of Education.' How we educate our children determines not just their future, but our own. But I think it's a sad legacy you will leave,' said Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) At the beginning of the hearing, McMahon said her three priorities for the department are school choice, literacy rates and returning education to the states. 'The fiscal year '26 budget will take a significant step toward that goal. We seek to shrink federal bureaucracy, save taxpayer money and empower states who best know their local needs to manage education in this country,' McMahon said. In his budget request, the president is looking to cut most education areas including preschool grants and the Office of Civil Rights. The only area the Trump administration looked to increase funding was for charter schools, by $60 million. The proposed cuts led to multiple discussions between the secretary and Democrats. 'I'm asking you, do you realize that to send authority back to the states, to eliminate your oversight, to eliminate your accountability, to eliminate your determination as to resources going to schools that are teaching public schools that are teaching underserved communities, this will result in the very reason that we had to get the involvement of our government in this, and that's a yes or no,' said Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) 'It isn't a yes or no, but I will not respond to any questions based on the theory that this administration doesn't care anything about the law and operates outside it,' McMahon responded. 'From the president of the United States conducting himself in a corrupt manner to his family enriching him and himself corruptly … I'm telling you, the Department of Education is one of the most important departments in this country and you should feel shameful [to] be engaged with an administration that doesn't give a damn,' Watson Coleman retorted. McMahon pushed back on statements that she is trying to get rid of the 8 to 10 percent of federal funding that goes to states, emphasizing she is looking to move the programs to other departments. Trump has previously floated, for example, moving student loans to the Department of Treasury and programs for students with disabilities to the Department of Health and Human Services. 'You don't want to come up with the 8 percent to help our kids succeed, to help their mental health, to help kids with disabilities,' said Dean. 'I've already said Title I funding, IDEA funding is still going to come out' through other departments, McMahon responded. Republicans largely praised McMahon for the work she has done so far to slash the Department of Education, an agency the party has tried to get rid of since its creation. But the end of the department is not possible without an act of Congress, a high bar the Trump administration is unlikely to clear. 'Secretary McMahon has wasted no time implementing President Trump's bold agenda to restore education to the states, and I want to commend her for efforts on hitting the ground running,' said Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), chair of the House Appropriation Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. 'Students need reading, writing, math, critical thinking for everyday activities to succeed in their jobs and to make life's big decisions,' he added. 'Federal funding has let things like social justice advocacy, divisive issues' overtake a 'focus on teaching students' core subjects. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Biden's Ex-Press Secretary Announces She's Quit Democrats
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Joe Biden's former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has revealed she has left the Democratic party to become an independent. Jean-Pierre, who was criticized during her tenure as press secretary for being evasive about Biden's physical condition, made the revelation in her new book; "Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines," published on October 21. Wednesday's announcement from Legacy Lit said the book will take readers "through the three weeks that led to Biden's abandoning his bid for a second term and the betrayal by the Democratic Party that led to his decision." Jean-Pierre also discusses how she switched to independent after working in two Democratic administrations. This is a breaking news story, updates to follow.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Gavin Newsom Defies Trump With Groundbreaking Pollution Program
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. California Governor Gavin Newsom has responded to President Donald Trump's rollback of climate protections by unveiling a "first-of-its-kind" pollution monitoring program. The state is launching its Statewide Mobile Monitoring Initiative (SMMI), which will use specially equipped vehicles to collect block-by-block air quality data in 64 communities that face heavy pollution. The results will help officials create solutions to improve air quality and public health. "While the federal government threatens to take us back to the days of smoggy skies and clogged lungs, California continues to lead the way. We're deploying first-of-their-kind vehicles to monitor pollution levels at a block-by-block level, delivering critical air quality information to communities across the state," Newsom said in a statement on Tuesday. Why It Matters The unveiling of the SMMI comes amid sweeping federal actions targeting state-level environmental rules, including efforts to block California's authority to set vehicle emission standards and the rollback of clean air waivers. What To Know The project, spearheaded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), will deploy sensor-equipped vehicles supplied by Aclima, along with mobile labs managed by researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, the University of California, Riverside, and Aerodyne. The researchers will collect data from 64 communities statewide, with 60 percent of the monitoring focused on priority populations, including low-income communities and those facing disproportionate pollution. More than 40 community-based organizations across the state have partnered with CARB to identify local air quality concerns and ensure community voices shape the monitoring efforts. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks at a rally in San Francisco on June 7, 2024. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks at a rally in San Francisco on June 7, 2024. Jessica Christian/San Francisco Chronicle/AP Over the past five decades, California's clean air initiatives have reduced diesel-related cancer risks by nearly 80 percent and saved $250 billion in health care costs, according to a press release from the governor's office. Trump's second term has seen more than 150 actions weakening environmental standards, with particular focus on California's authority to regulate pollution, set clean vehicle standards, and operate its cap-and-trade system, according to the Los Angeles Times. During his first term, Trump took significant steps to limit California's authority to set its own vehicle emissions standards, a power granted under the Clean Air Act since 1970. On September 18, 2019, the Trump administration announced the revocation of California's waiver, which allowed the state to enforce stricter greenhouse gas emissions and zero-emission vehicle mandates than federal standards. This move marked the first time such a waiver had been rescinded. The administration justified the revocation by asserting the need for a unified national standard to reduce vehicle costs and improve safety. However, critics argued that the action undermined states' rights and environmental protections. California, joined by 23 other states and several cities, filed lawsuits challenging the decision, leading to a prolonged legal battle. In March 2022, under the administration of former President Joe Biden, the Environmental Protection Agency reinstated California's waiver, restoring the state's authority to set its own vehicle emissions standards. As of June 2025, the Trump administration is reportedly considering new actions to revoke California's authority to enforce its stringent emissions standards, including the state's plan to ban the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. Such efforts are expected to face legal challenges. What People Are Saying Dr. Steven Cliff, executive director of the California Air Resources Board, in a statement on Tuesday: "By meeting communities where they are and listening to their concerns, we're building an air quality monitoring system that integrates the lived experiences of the people most impacted by air pollution. "The Statewide Mobile Monitoring Initiative represents an unprecedented opportunity to gather the detailed information we need to better protect public health in neighborhoods that have historically borne the brunt of environmental injustice." What Happens Next The SMMI will continue to collect air quality data through June 2026, after which the collected data will be made available to the public. CARB, local air districts, stakeholders, and the local community will then use the data to help guide efforts in addressing pollution concerns.
