When nearly half of Pennsylvania’s third graders can’t read at grade level, we don’t have an education gap; we have an emergency.
It doesn’t matter if a child lives in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, or a small town like Cecil or McDonald – if they can’t read by third grade, the odds of success in school, work, and life begin slipping away fast.
And yet, Pennsylvania has no comprehensive, statewide plan to address this. No structured strategy. No urgent action.
That must change – now.
I’ve spent the last five years working on legislation that would bring structured literacy to classrooms across our commonwealth. It’s built on one simple idea: teach kids how to read using methods that actually work.
This isn’t political. It’s practical. States like Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida have already shown the way – invest in evidence-based reading instruction early on and you will see big gains in test scores, graduation rates and lives changed.
This isn’t just about education. It’s about economics. Kids who can’t read by third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school. They’re more likely to need special education, end up in the criminal justice system, or struggle to find meaningful work. That costs taxpayers a fortune in the long run.
When we teach a child to read, we’re not just opening a textbook. We’re opening up a world of opportunity. We’re giving them the tools to dream bigger, aim higher and participate more fully in our democracy.
Literacy builds confidence. It improves mental health. It helps parents read to their kids, employees understand job manuals, and people stay connected through newspapers and digital tools. It strengthens every stage of life.
More than that, it brings us together. Every community – urban, rural and suburban – wants their children to thrive. Literacy is common ground. It’s not red or blue. It’s about the kind of commonwealth we want to be. A place where no child is written off.
The 2025–26 state budget is being negotiated right now. If there was ever a moment to act, this is it.
We have a chance to fund early literacy initiatives that will train teachers in evidence-based reading instruction and give every child in Pennsylvania a fighting chance to succeed.
This isn’t about party lines or political wins. It’s about kids. It’s about future taxpayers, workers, and parents. It’s about making sure every child can walk into a classroom and not just survive but thrive.
Gov. Josh Shapiro has said he wants results, not politics. I agree. So, let’s deliver results that matter and, as he says, “get stuff done.”
The time is now. We can’t afford to wait.