Westmoreland Review

The Pennsylvania General Assembly has approved Senate Bill 801, aimed at enhancing reading programs for elementary students across the state. This legislation seeks to address literacy challenges faced by many students in Pennsylvania, where over 50,000 third-graders struggle with reading comprehension and basic writing skills. The bill was inspired by successful initiatives in states like Florida and Mississippi.

According to Children First PA, a nonprofit organization, "66% of Pennsylvania’s students are not proficient in fourth-grade English." The bill proposes the creation of a Reading Leadership Council under the Pennsylvania Department of Education. This council will develop and maintain a list of approved reading curricula and universal reading screeners aligned with evidence-based instruction.

The legislation is designed to empower teachers by involving Pennsylvania elementary educators from public schools in decision-making processes rather than imposing direct mandates from bureaucrats. "A list of approved curricula for schools to consider is due June 1," states the legislation.

Rep. Jill Cooper (R-Westmoreland) emphasizes that the changes start with how educators are trained, requiring instructors who teach reading and literacy education programs to be skilled in foundational skills and instructional interventions based on structured literacy. Importantly, there are no additional costs to taxpayers.

Senate Bill 801 now returns to the Senate for a concurrence vote before heading to Governor Josh Shapiro for consideration.

In other news shared by Rep. Cooper:

- A Hard-to-Read License Plate Event will take place on October 26 at the Murrysville Municipal Building, cohosted with the Murrysville Police Department.

- The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is offering grants up to $25,000 for educational programs promoting fishing and boating interest.

- PennDOT is conducting an online survey until October 22 to gather feedback on its construction and maintenance services.