Harrisburg, PA, February 4, 2025 —

Today, Gov. Josh Shapiro released his 2025-26 budget proposal, which included increased funding for education. However, it failed to include funding or policy reforms to dramatically improve literacy in Pennsylvania. Earlier this year, the Pennsylvania Literacy Coalition called on lawmakers to address the literacy crisis  with a $100 million investment in the 2025 state budget to equip every teacher with the training, tools, and support needed to teach reading effectively using instructional methods and materials based in the science of reading.

"Pennsylvania is in the midst of a literacy crisis, and we cannot afford to wait any longer,” said Rachael Garnick, Coalition Manager. “Right now, only 33% of Pennsylvania’s fourth graders are reading proficiently. This is not just a statistic–it represents real children who are being left behind, denied the foundational skill that determines their future success. We know what works, and we know what’s at stake. Mississippi, through its Literacy-Based Promotion Act, proved that bold state action and investment in evidence-based instruction can turn the tide. Pennsylvania must follow suit. Our students, and our Commonwealth as a whole, deserve nothing less.

PA does not provide any dedicated funding for teacher training, curriculum, or universal screeners aligned with the science of reading. Of Pennsylvania's 33 teacher preparation programs evaluated by the National Council on Teacher Quality, only 18% adequately cover all five components of the science of reading (NCTQ, 2023). Without comprehensive policy reforms and sufficient funding, Pennsylvania’s students will continue to struggle, and the state will face long-term economic and social consequences. 

States that have invested significantly in comprehensive literacy policies and evidence-based instruction—such as Mississippi, Indiana, South Carolina, and Tennessee—are seeing real progress. Louisiana, for example, has exceeded its pre-pandemic scores and now exceeds the national average. Pennsylvania must follow suit by prioritizing and fully funding policies grounded in the science of reading.

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About the Pennsylvania Literacy Coalition

Established in January 2025, the Pennsylvania Literacy Coalition is a diverse network of individuals and organizations from across Pennsylvania committed to transforming literacy outcomes statewide. Representing a range of sectors, PLC members all share a common mission: to end Pennsylvania's literacy crisis by championing comprehensive, evidence-based policies.