Lawmakers once again seek to overhaul reading instruction
About half of the state's districts in 2023 relied on reading programs in kindergarten through third grade the state considers low quality, among the findings of a
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'It's very clear that we can't wait any longer to address what the data is telling us and the data is telling us that we are in a literacy crisis,' said Mary Tamer, founder and executive director of
Lisa Lazare, executive director of Educators for Excellence, said students struggling with reading could face severe consequences if the Legislature fails to act, noting it could increase students' risk of dropping out of school.
'It is heartbreaking,' she said.
Mandating literacy restrictions has generated resistance, including from the Massachusetts Teachers Association.
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'With so many districts facing a fiscal crisis and possible additional losses in federal funds, it is even more harmful to introduce new state-mandated spending that local districts can't control on limited curriculum packages,' Max Page and Deborah McCarthy, the president and vice president, said in a statement.
Following the Globe's investigation, Governor Maura Healey
announced a $20 million
But Representative Danillo Sena, a bill sponsor, said more aggressive action is needed.
'I know that
teachers want students to succeed," he said. 'We can give them the tools they need to use evidence-based material.'
The lack of a statewide mandate is leaving many parents with an uphill battle to change reading curriculums, with debates emerging in such districts as Lexington and Winchester. Lexington superintendent Julie Hackett has been
A similar debate is unfolding in Needham, where some parents earlier this year started the Needham Literacy Coalition. The group is attempting to convince district leaders to stop using Lucy Calkins's Units of Study, a reading curriculum that is subject of a
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The debate filtered into this year's School Committee race. Leanne Ratti, who has three children in the Needham public schools, ran for a seat in an effort to push for changes to literacy instruction.
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Ratti, who lost her School Committee bid on April 8, said she was surprised Needham was still using Units of Study, noting Boston Public Schools, where she teaches, got rid of it eight years ago.
'The trust with Lucy Calkins has been broken,' Ratti said. 'Why would we buy another product from the same company and the same person?'
Parents pushing for changes say the debate has turned contentious and they have faced false accusations of pushing a conservative political agenda.
'It's just so hurtful and could not be further from the truth,' said Melissa Rotman, a speech therapist with two children in Needham schools. 'I definitely think getting this bill passed would help.'
Needham is in the midst of overhauling reading instruction and is piloting five programs, including a revised version of Units of Study that now has a stronger emphasis on phonics, but would continue pairing it with a separate phonics program.
Carmen Williams, assistant superintendent of instruction and innovation, said she believes a combination of strong guidance and accountability from the state would be better in ensuring quality reading instruction rather than a state law mandating specific programs.
'There is no perfect program,' Williams said.
James Vaznis can be reached at
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