PA Legislators Leading in Literacy Policy
Jason Ortitay
PA State Representative Holds
Press Conference for Early Literacy
Budget or not, structured literacy program still on the table
“The state’s stalled budget negotiations left many other proposals on hold, including a bipartisan plan to increase childhood literacy.”
Ortitay, Fleming Introduce Legislation to Add Educational Tools to Increase Early Literacy in PA
“At a Capitol press conference… Reps. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny) and Justin Fleming (D-Dauphin) unveiled legislation built on last year’s efforts to advance early literacy in Pennsylvania.”
Reps. Jason Ortitay and Justin Fleming: Early literacy legislation must be advanced
“By providing support for early literacy development, House Bill 998 has the potential to make a meaningful difference in the lives of countless Pennsylvania children and ensure that they are able to reach their full potential.”
Justin Fleming
Ryan P. Aument
Empowering Families
in Education Act
“We all have a vested interest in making sure our children are safe and grow to be happy and healthy. Therefore, we must all work together to find fair solutions that accommodate the needs of parents and children from different backgrounds.”
“Students are struggling to read — we must help them”
“After Mississippi’s literacy program was passed in 2013, the state rose from 49th in fourth grade reading to 21st in the nation…North Carolina students in kindergarten through fourth grade made greater mid-year gains than students in other states using the same assessment, with the percentage of kindergarten students meeting the benchmark almost doubling, from 28% to 56%.
“Those are the kind of results Pennsylvania families deserve, and we can’t afford to wait.”
Legislation and Policy Information
Policy Resources
Why the Three-Cueing Systems Model Doesn’t Teach Children to Read
“The minute you ask them just to pay attention to the first letter or look at the picture, look at the context, you’re drawing their attention away from the very things that they need to interact with in order for them to read the word and remember the word…”
Dr. David Kilpatrick
A State-by-State Analysis of Fundamental Principles
“The purpose of this document is to provide an analysis of states’ statutes and regulations that align to ExcelinEd’s fundamental principles. These principles, which should be included in early literacy policy, allow for a comprehensive approach to improving reading outcomes by considering the supports for students, teachers and parents.”
Identifying and Supporting Students with Characteristics of Dyslexia
“The risk factors associated with dyslexia impact critical prerequisite skills that all children must master to be able to read fluently. For state policymakers, the most effective strategy for supporting students with dyslexia and their families is to adopt a model of early intervention through tiered instruction.”
Pennsylvania Lawmakers Prioritize Students in State Budget
*From July 2022*
The Pennsylvania General Assembly sent Gov. Tom Wolf a budget and related School Code legislation that includes record investments in education and student-centered policies.
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