According to the EdVoice Institute, an education advocacy nonprofit, students begin to transition from learning to read to reading to learn when they reach third grade, but students who finish reading below grade level , there is little chance of catching up during the remainder of the school year. .
Alarmingly, data shows that 6 out of 10 children in California cannot read by third grade.
Maria Nieto knows all too well the added anxiety that comes with having a child who struggles with reading and writing. Her 9-year-old daughter, Angie, falls right into that category of misery. Her third graders are now reading and writing at a kindergarten level, and both her mother and daughter are feeling increasingly lost and she is feeling overwhelmed.
“It's very frustrating for her and for me,” Nieto said. San Fernando Valley San/El Sol. Nieto lives in Panorama City with her husband and her four children, ranging from her 4 years old to her 14 years old.
Angie often avoids working on her schoolwork. Not because I don't want to do it, but because it's too difficult. As a result, progress stalls or falls further behind. And her poor literacy skills have had a negative impact on other subjects, Nieto explained, making most of her classes more difficult, “even math, which includes word problems.” .
An active and hands-on parent, Nieto does his best to support all of his children. She joins “Our Voice-Nuestra Voz,” a bilingual advocacy group for parents and educational leaders, and talks to teachers and administrators at her daughter's school, Alta California Elementary School in Panorama City, about questions and concerns. are sharing. She discusses everything from Angie's IEP (Individual Education Plan) due to language delay to her ongoing challenges with literacy.
“Every time they see me now, they'll think, 'Oh, there she is again,'” Nieto said. “They always tell me the same thing: 'If you eat well and sleep well, you can help your child succeed in school. [help them with] Do your homework and create a healthy home environment. ” But I already do all these things every day. ”
Unfortunately, Nieto and her husband, both immigrants from Mexico, speak little English and are unable to help with schoolwork. Nieto encourages her daughter to study for school every day, but she often relies on translation apps, and she is not confident in their accuracy. She sometimes asks her 14-year-old son for help, but she says: I don't want him to fall behind either. ”
“I don't speak the language [English]So how can I help my daughter read and understand vocabulary? And how do I know if all the schoolwork she's doing is correct? ” she continued in Spanish. “Obviously this is a clash of cultures, which makes an already difficult situation even worse.”
New bill targets literacy
Nieto and his daughter are not alone. In California, only 3 out of 10 third-graders from underprivileged families reach grade level in English Language Arts (ELA). The statistics are even worse among low-income English learners, Black students, and children with disabilities, with only two in 10 third graders performing at grade level.
Rep. Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) will raise awareness about illiteracy and introduce a newly announced “evidence-based” approach to teaching all elementary school students in California to read. With the help of the bill, we hope to reduce these numbers.
“As an educator, I know firsthand the struggles teachers face in getting their students to know how to read,” said Rubio, who has been a teacher for 16 years. “However, California is failing students, especially diverse students from low-income families. … AB [Assembly Bill] 2222 will set both students and educators up for success. ”
The literacy bill – AB 2222 – centers around four key priorities. To ensure access to the Science of Reading curriculum. Continue professional development and training for current teachers. Appropriate preparation and qualification of teacher candidates. Monitor student progress and implement interventions for struggling readers.
The basis of the bill, which could begin to take effect by mid-2025, is the Science of Reading, which uses evidence from interdisciplinary research to help all people, including English language learners, It develops effective classroom practices that benefit students. The curriculum incorporates phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, writing, oral language development, and phonology and phonemic awareness.
“If there is a primary responsibility of public elementary schools, it is to teach children to read and to ensure that they have a future full of opportunity,” said Marshall Tuck, CEO of EdVoice. ” he said. “We now know the best way to teach children to read… [utilizing] “The Science of Reading.” It is time to mandate this evidence-based approach to early literacy instruction in all California classrooms. ”
risks of illiteracy
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, California's adult illiteracy rate is 28%, the second highest in the nation. Megan Potente, co-state director of Decoding Dyslexia California, says the path to reducing adult illiteracy and its potential dangers (from lower earning potential to higher unemployment rates) is effective. He said that early literacy instruction and intervention is essential.
Nieto agrees. She said she hopes more effective ways can be found to support students facing challenges.
“Just like in other fields that are changing and evolving, such as technology and science, I think educators should try to incorporate new ways to help children learn to read and write,” she says.
Although Nieto believes that “the foundation of education begins at home,” she emphasized that many parents like her and hers did not have the benefit of a college education or years of experience as a teacher. She believes that professional educators must know the best ways to motivate and educate students, considering their strengths and weaknesses.
“For us as parents, it's even more complicated because we don't have the necessary tools or the same level of knowledge,” she explained. And even though Ms. Nieto is doing everything she can to help her daughter by asking the right questions, her daughter still falls through the cracks.
Nieto said the new law will help flip the switch for children who are struggling to navigate school by providing the right mix of attention and support, along with additional training for teachers. He said he was looking forward to it.
“Our children deserve great teachers who truly care about them,” she said. Unfortunately, the future remains uncertain for children like Angie, who, despite being halfway through elementary school, are still severely behind their classmates. “I'm always worried.”
AB 2222 will head to the Assembly Education Committee this spring. For more information about this law, visit edvoice.org/news/for-immediate-release-edvoice-sponsors-early-literacy-legislation-ab-2222.
To sign the petition and show your support for this bill, please visit:
https://secure.everyaction.com/DZYrNDw3g0qO4MTGiw9JIw2
