Massachusetts House Passes Bill Mandating Phonics-Based Reading Instruction Amidst Union Objections

The Massachusetts House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a bill that mandates evidence-based reading instruction, including a strong focus on phonics, for public schools across the state. The legislative move comes as part of a broader "Science of Reading" initiative aimed at reversing declining literacy rates, though it has faced notable opposition from teachers' unions.The bill, which passed with a significant majority, requires school districts to adopt literacy curricula aligned with evidence-based practices, emphasizing foundational skills such as phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. It also prohibits instructional methods like "three-cueing," which encourages students to guess words from context rather than decoding them. House Speaker Ron Mariano highlighted the need to "jumpstart the weak recovery from pandemic-era learning losses."The Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA), the state's largest teachers' union, has voiced strong objections to the mandate, arguing it could undermine local control and limit teachers' flexibility. MTA President Max Page stated, "There’s no consistent proof at all that this ‘Science of Reading’ approach worked." The sentiment was echoed by social media user Crémieux, who commented, "> Massachusetts just forced phonics on schools because it works, and despite teacher's unions wanting to use less effective teaching methods!"Proponents of the legislation, including Governor Maura Healey, point to a significant decline in 4th-grade reading scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) since 2015. State officials note that roughly one-third of Massachusetts districts continue to use curricula deemed "low-quality" by the state, despite millions in funding through programs like "Literacy Launch" to support the adoption of high-quality materials and teacher training.The bill now moves to the State Senate for further consideration. If enacted, Massachusetts would join a growing number of states nationwide that have legislated changes to reading instruction based on the "Science of Reading," marking a pivotal shift in the state's approach to early literacy education.