Assembly Democrats Pass Major Legislation to Strengthen Child Literacy in California

SACRAMENTO - Speaker Robert Rivas and Assembly Democrats passed significant legislation on Saturday to strengthen child literacy in California, bolstered by a $200 million budget investment to equip California's educators and school leaders with the training, materials and support needed to help every student succeed.

Assembly Bill 1454 by Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) and joint authors Assemblymembers Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) and Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) will advance evidence-based early literacy and provide direct support to help California's children learn to read in a proficient and timely manner.

AB 1454 will strengthen early literacy instruction in the state by ensuring credentialing and curriculum are aligned with evidence-based literacy practices. The budget also includes $250,000 to support guidance for the instructional materials adoption, informed by AB 1454.

What Speaker Robert Rivas Says

"Strong reading skills are the foundation for every student's success, and our action today demonstrates a big commitment to improving California's reading and literacy rates. This legislation is a critical step and will improve literacy outcomes for California's students."

What Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi Says

"After more than two years of working to promote evidence-based literacy instruction, I am proud to join Speaker Rivas and Assemblymember Rubio as a joint author of this important measure. Assembly Bill 1454 is a significant step forward in teaching every child in California the foundational skill of reading. I urge the Governor to sign this bill."

What Assemblymember Blanca Rubio Says

"Today's Senate vote is a victory for California's children - all of whom deserve the chance to succeed. AB 1454 will give California's teachers the tools they need to teach literacy, and our students the skills they need to tackle reading- the foundation for their success. This bill confronts the staggering literacy gaps we've seen in California. Our state is making a historic investment in our children's future, showing its commitment and dedication to their success and wellbeing. I am extremely grateful for the support from Speaker Rivas, the Governor, Assemblymember Muratsuchi and the countless advocates, teachers, parents and constituents who have been invested in this legislation. I am honored to have helped lead this incredibly impactful legislation forward."

Overview of Assembly Bill 1454

• Updates instructional materials: Requires the State Board of Education to adopt instructional materials that align with evidence-based means of teaching foundational reading skills.
• Supports administrator preparation: Requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to update school administrator and reading specialist standards to include training to support effective literacy instruction.

How We Got Here

California has made significant investments in literacy initiatives in recent years, including literacy coaches and pandemic learning recovery. Speaker Rivas has made child literacy a top priority, authoring key legislation like AB 1454 to strengthen early literacy efforts statewide. The funding allocated in the budget builds on that momentum, ensuring California continues to advance toward the goal of every child becoming a confident, capable reader.

AB 1454 now heads to Governor Gavin Newsom's desk for signature.

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For more information, follow Speaker Robert Rivas at the following social media channels:

Instagram: @caspeakerrivas

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CASpeakerRivas/