I had a great conversation with teacher Missy Carey from my district about the urgent need for stronger educator training in structured literacy. Through her work with students every day, she sees firsthand how critical early reading instruction is — and how much support teachers need to ensure every child can succeed. Organizations like Teach Plus are helping elevate educator voices and push for meaningful change in literacy instruction and teacher preparation. The data makes it clear why this matters: • 37% of 4th graders score Below Basic on NAEP reading assessments • Only 33% of Pennsylvania 4th graders are proficient readers — down from 40% in 2019 • Students who are not proficient readers by 3rd grade are far more likely to struggle academically and face increased risk of dropping out of high school • Research shows that 95% of students can learn to read with effective, evidence-based instruction Every child deserves the opportunity to become a confident reader, and every educator deserves the training and tools to make that possible. Investing in structured literacy training is an investment in our students’ futures. #StructuredLiteracy #ScienceOfReading #Education #LiteracyMatters #TeachPlus #PennsylvaniaSchools