Senate passes DiDomenico’s Early Literacy Bill

Legislation reforms literacy education standards, aids teachers’ professional development

Special to The Advocate

On January 29, 2026, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed Senator Sal DiDomenico’s early literacy legislation that supports young learners by ensuring reading instruction is rooted in proven, evidence-based practices. DiDomenico first filed this bill last session and worked alongside advocates, educators and administrators to ensure that all students are taught the skills they need to read and teachers are given the support and tools they deserve. Last October, the House had unanimously passed its own version of the bill. Now the Senate and House will reconcile the differences between the two bills.

The bill creates new statewide standards for literacy education and assessment; offers professional development resources for educators; and offers flexible options and supplemental funding for public schools that work to implement evidence-based curricula. The bill, which is called An Act relative to teacher preparation and student literacy, ensures that every Massachusetts student from kindergarten through third grade learns to read using phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension and phonemic awareness — practices that data show as the best building blocks for lifetime learning.

“This is a monumental moment for children across our state because we passed my bill through the Senate to ensure all our students learn essential literacy skills,” said Senator DiDomenico. “We can all agree that teaching our kids to read and write is one of the most fundamental skills we can instill in them, but far too many children in our schools are not meeting basic literacy benchmarks. Working with our teachers and administrators, this legislation will institute evidence-based curriculum to ensure all our students’ success in early literacy and give them the bright futures they deserve. I want to thank Senate President Spilka, Education Chair Lewis, my staff, the educators, and the advocates for their dedication to pushing this needed policy change over the finish line.”

“Our state’s future success is built on ensuring that our children become confident readers,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Today, the Senate passed legislation to do just that—ensuring every child in a Massachusetts public school is taught using proven, research-based methods, while providing educators and school districts with the resources they need to succeed. This legislation builds on years of work to advance equity in our schools and ensure that, no matter a child’s background, every student can access a world-class, data-driven education. I am grateful to Chair Rodrigues and Chair Lewis for their work on this legislation, and to Senator DiDomenico for his leadership in filing it.”

To support school districts and educators with implementation, the legislation would create a new Early Literacy Fund with $25 million to help districts with costs and support educators’ professional development. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) would also make additional professional development resources available. Schools would have DESE-approved options to implement the new curriculum requirement: utilize a complete curriculum that is made available for free by DESE; use a curriculum from a list that meets evidence-based criteria; or receive a waiver authorizing the use of another curriculum that meets the same standards but had not been previously reviewed and approved by DESE.

The legislation makes sure parents and schools engage in constructive communication about student progress. It requires twice-yearly assessments to gauge every young learner’s reading progress and to screen for dyslexia and requires schools to contact a parent or guardian within 30 days if a student has fallen significantly behind and propose a response if that is the case.

Below are some Statements of Support.

Mary Tamer, Founder and Executive Director of MassPotential: “This is an historic and necessary step forward for education in Massachusetts. Senate President Spilka and Senator DiDomenico have championed a transformative literacy bill that will change the trajectory of countless students across the Commonwealth, all of whom deserve the right to read. This legislation doesn’t just mandate best practices—it opens the door to opportunity for every child in every district. Reading is the foundation upon which all learning is built, and today, we are one step closer to guaranteeing that no child will be denied the bright future that literacy makes possible.”

Luisa Sparrow, Boston Public Schools Teacher, 2025 Mass. Teacher of the Year: “We become teachers because we dream of helping students learn. Learning to read is the most important academic skill we can possibly teach our students. But when we enter the classroom, too many educators realize we don’t have all the tools we need to actually teach our students to read. This bill will give teachers the tools we need to be effective in the classroom so that ALL students have the opportunity to attain the literacy skills they deserve.”

Dr. Sarah Fennelly, President of The Reading League Massachusetts: “Reading is more than a subject in school. It is a life skill every person needs to be a productive member of society. It is also a right, not a privilege. It is not a developmental milestone; it requires direct instruction by educators. We have research and evidence to show that there are best practices to teach children this important skill, and that there are practices that have been shown to be ineffective for a majority of students. This bill will ensure that best practices are applied so all students are taught this important life skill. This is not just best for students, it is best for all of us as a society to create a generation of well read, critical thinkers who can make important decisions and become the future leaders we need.”

Bithiah Carter, President and CEO of Give Black Alliance: “The right to read has always been a civil right, won through struggle, sacrifice, and lives lost. Our 21st century responsibility is to finish the work by protecting this right, because when every child can read, knowledge becomes liberation, and democracy survives. When our children look back on this moment, we want to be on the right side of history.”