Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus
10/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/08/2024 14:10
House Advances Early Literacy Legislation, Ortitay Says
Oct. 08, 2024
HARRISBURG - The House today passed legislation to further strengthen efforts to advance early literacy achievement for all, an issue Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny) has championed for almost five years.
"We are closer to finally having a strong, evidence-based reading program required for our young learners in the Commonwealth," Ortitay said. "This legislation is not a political issue or about picking winners and losers. It's about making sure every student knows how to read. Reading is foundational for everyone's education. With statewide early literacy scores hovering around 30% proficiency by the end of third grade, we need to change the way we teach students how to read. I believe this bill will be quickly taken up by the Senate and signed by the governor in the near future. There's still a lot of work to do, and I am committed to finishing that work."
Senate Bill 801, which is similar to Ortitay's House Bill 998, would require the creation of a Reading Leadership Council to develop and maintain a list of approved reading curriculum and universal reading screeners that align with evidence-based reading instruction, require the Pennsylvania Department of Education to create a free professional development program to train teachers on evidence-based reading, and eliminate the use of three-cuing, which has proven to be unsuccessful.
As part of the 2022-23 state budget, Ortitay added language to the Education Code creating a program of professional development and applied practice in structured literacy for school personnel. The program includes in-class demonstrations, modeling and coaching support to improve reading and early literacy outcomes. Since the spring of 2023, Ortitay has been working with his House and Senate colleagues to push further literacy legislation.
The bill now goes to the Senate for concurrence.
The 46th Legislative District includes South Fayette Township and McDonald and Oakdale boroughs in Allegheny County. It also encompasses Cecil, Chartiers, Mt. Pleasant and North Strabane (Districts 6,7,8 and 9) townships and Canonsburg, Houston and McDonald boroughs in Washington County.
Representative Jason Ortitay
46th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tracy Polovick
717.260.6358
[email protected]
RepOrtitay.com / Facebook.com/RepOrtitay
"We are closer to finally having a strong, evidence-based reading program required for our young learners in the Commonwealth," Ortitay said. "This legislation is not a political issue or about picking winners and losers. It's about making sure every student knows how to read. Reading is foundational for everyone's education. With statewide early literacy scores hovering around 30% proficiency by the end of third grade, we need to change the way we teach students how to read. I believe this bill will be quickly taken up by the Senate and signed by the governor in the near future. There's still a lot of work to do, and I am committed to finishing that work."
Senate Bill 801, which is similar to Ortitay's House Bill 998, would require the creation of a Reading Leadership Council to develop and maintain a list of approved reading curriculum and universal reading screeners that align with evidence-based reading instruction, require the Pennsylvania Department of Education to create a free professional development program to train teachers on evidence-based reading, and eliminate the use of three-cuing, which has proven to be unsuccessful.
As part of the 2022-23 state budget, Ortitay added language to the Education Code creating a program of professional development and applied practice in structured literacy for school personnel. The program includes in-class demonstrations, modeling and coaching support to improve reading and early literacy outcomes. Since the spring of 2023, Ortitay has been working with his House and Senate colleagues to push further literacy legislation.
The bill now goes to the Senate for concurrence.
The 46th Legislative District includes South Fayette Township and McDonald and Oakdale boroughs in Allegheny County. It also encompasses Cecil, Chartiers, Mt. Pleasant and North Strabane (Districts 6,7,8 and 9) townships and Canonsburg, Houston and McDonald boroughs in Washington County.
Representative Jason Ortitay
46th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tracy Polovick
717.260.6358
[email protected]
RepOrtitay.com / Facebook.com/RepOrtitay
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