Massachusetts House passes legislation promoting phonics in literacy education

The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a literacy reform bill last week that would require public schools to use reading programs grounded in phonics and other proven methods.

The 155-0 vote came after years of debate on how to address the state’s decline in reading performance. Supporters said the legislation would finally move Massachusetts away from discredited approaches and toward what researchers call the “Science of Reading.”

“As a former public-school teacher, and as someone who cares deeply about the future of our Commonwealth, I believe strongly that we must do more to address the literacy challenges that our students are facing, and to better prepare our students for life after graduation,” House Speaker Ron Mariano, D-Quincy, posted on X. 

“That’s why the bills that the House passed today are so important, as they will ensure that every student in Massachusetts will have access to strong, evidence-based literacy instruction, and that our students will receive comprehensive financial literacy instruction as well,” he added. 

Mariano said the goal is to improve reading scores that have fallen by about one grade level since 2015. He described the proposal as part of a broader effort to help children recover from pandemic learning loss despite years of record-high school funding. 

Under the measure, districts must use reading curricula from a list approved by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Reading programs must include five areas: phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension and phonemic awareness.  

Districts using other curricula would need a waiver showing their approach meets evidence-based standards. 

The Massachusetts Teachers Association fought the proposal, arguing local districts should have full control over what and how they teach. MTA president Max Page said the measure “will undermine tailoring instruction for all of our students and a variety of learning styles.” 

The union had proposed an amendment to the bill removing state oversight, but it was withdrawn before debate. 

While the MTA failed to stop the legislation, lawmakers did approve some smaller changes backed by union allies, including new language promoting school librarians and literacy specialists.  

Another approved amendment allows teachers to use pictures as “supplements” when teaching new words, though not as replacements for phonics-based instruction. 

“We’re not banning pictures,” Rep. Ken Gordon, D-Bedford, said. “We’re just banning pictures in place of words.” 

Advocates say the bill follows successful models from Louisiana and Mississippi, two states seeing gains after adopting phonics-centered instruction. 

Massachusetts “is doing the most important parts of what they did in the Southern Surge,” curriculum researcher Karen Vaites told the Boston Globe about southern states’ recent improvements. 

The measure now heads to the state Senate, where lawmakers there will consider their own version.