A California test to prove teachers are prepared to teach reading is one of the few in the U.S. considered effective, according to an analysis released Tuesday. The state will do away with it in 2025.
English learners need foundational skills like phonics and vocabulary in addition to instruction in speaking and understanding English and connections to their home languages.
The statement aims to push policymakers to consider English learners’ needs and dispel the idea that English learners do not need to be taught phonics.
California on track to implement new literacy standards and teacher performance expectations focused on foundational reading skills, such as phonics, in teacher preparation programs next year.
Instructional guide would emphasize proven elements of "science of reading" – decoding skills as well as comprehension. But under local control, districts can ignore it.