Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio Announces AB 1121, a Landmark Early Literacy Bill Ensuring All California Students Receive Evidence-Based Reading Instruction

by ·

New Legislation, Co-Sponsored by EdVoice, Families In Schools, and Decoding Dyslexia CA, Addresses California’s Reading Crisis Head-On 

Sacramento, CA (February 21, 2025)– Reading is a civil right, but California’s early childhood literacy gaps are some of the largest by race and income in the nation. The problem is not that our children can’t learn, but that many are not being provided with effective reading instruction and materials. Today, California State Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio (D-48) introduced a new early literacy bill, AB 1121, that will create more equitable academic outcomes by bringing evidence-based reading instruction to every elementary school classroom in California. The bill is co-sponsored by EdVoice, Decoding Dyslexia CA and Families In Schools. This legislation, if enacted, will ensure that all elementary students in California receive reading instruction aligned with the latest scientific research on how the brain learns to read.

California is facing a reading crisis. Currently, only four in 10 third graders are reading at grade level – a number that drops to three in 10 for low-income Latino students and two in 10 for students with disabilities, English learners, and low-income Black students. These rates have remained mostly flat over the past decade. While California has implemented certain early literacy policy changes, including SB 488 (evidence-based literacy teaching standards) and SB 114 (K-2 screeners for reading difficulties), more must be done as the state currently ranks 33rd in the nation for fourth-grade reading achievement.

Under the leadership of Assemblywoman Rubio, EdVoice and its partners are taking action on behalf of 3.6 million low-income students in our state by ensuring that every classroom utilizes effective, research-based methods to teach students, including English learners, how to read.

“Teaching kids to read is the most important responsibility of public schools because reading is the foundation for all future learning and opportunities. Yet, not all California classrooms are aligned with the decades of scientific research that explains how the brain learns to read – regardless of native language,” said Marshall Tuck, CEO of EdVoice. “Assemblymember Rubio’s leadership on AB 1121 will help ensure that every child, regardless of background, has the opportunity to succeed in school and beyond.”

“As a former teacher, I’ve witnessed the challenges, the emotional strain and stress our students face when being taught to read by teachers left without the right training and materials to be successful,” said California State Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio (D-48), lead author of the bill. “California teachers are deeply committed to their students. AB 1121 will provide California teachers with high-quality professional development and resources so that they have the support they deserve, while setting students up for lifelong success,” she added.

AB 1121 moves from state guidance to action by focusing on:

  • Teacher Training: Paid professional development to ensure all California elementary teachers and administrators who provide reading instruction are trained using evidence-based practices. Educators who have already received similar training may opt to retake it, but it will not be required.
  • Instructional Materials: The State Board of Education (SBE) adopts a new ELA/ELD instructional materials list that aligns with evidence-based means of teaching literacy (already identified in current law) and the ELA/ELD framework. Local Education Agencies (LEAs) will be required to adopt materials from the state list, but can request a waiver.

Similar efforts in over one third of other states have demonstrated the impact of aligning reading instruction with research. Mississippi, for example, saw its national fourth-grade reading score rank jump from 49th to 9th after implementing comprehensive evidence-based literacy policies.

“Our state has invested millions of dollars in literacy over the past decade, but we are still not seeing the return on investment in terms of improved reading outcomes for children,” said Megan Potente, Co-State Director of Decoding Dyslexia CA. “AB 1121 will strengthen key state initiatives, such as the K-2 universal screenings set to begin in the 2025-26 school year. The bill will ensure that teachers are better equipped to support children identified as at risk for reading difficulties, including dyslexia, so that they become strong readers and leaders.”

“Every parent wants their child to read, but too many families – especially those in low-income communities – do not have the resources to seek outside help, like high dosage tutoring, that more affluent families turn to when schools fail to teach their children to read,” said Yolie Flores, President & CEO of Families In Schools. “Families deserve to have educators that are equipped with the most effective reading instruction possible. AB 1121 will require that every teacher in the early grades receives the necessary training to effectively teach children to read, giving parents and caregivers confidence that their children are learning to read using methods that actually work. This is a political choice, and one that must be prioritized now.”