California approves broad list of literacy programmes to accelerate reading skills in schools

California’s State Board of Education has approved 31 evidence-based early literacy training programmes, marking a significant step in the state’s push to embed the science of reading across its schools with substantial funding and strategic evaluation.

California’s State Board of Education has approved 31 early literacy training programmes as the state pushes schools towards the science of reading, the evidence-based approach that places greater emphasis on phonics and other foundational skills. The decision clears the way for school districts to tap into $200 million that California set aside in last year’s budget to help train teachers in how to teach reading more effectively.

The approval marks a major step in Governor Gavin Newsom’s broader literacy push, which also includes screening pupils for reading difficulties and revising teacher preparation standards. According to the California Department of Education, the state budget for 2025-26 also includes another $200 million to expand its Literacy Coaches and Reading Specialists Grant Programme, underscoring how heavily Sacramento is investing in reading instruction. In parallel, the state has been moving to align professional development, credential standards and instructional materials with evidence-based literacy practice.

The list, however, is considerably longer than many reading reform advocates wanted. Groups including Families in Schools, GO Public Schools and EdVoice had urged the board to limit the menu to the strongest programmes, arguing that a crowded list could leave districts struggling to identify the best options. Instead, the board removed several of the weakest applicants, but left 31 providers on the approved roster and directed the Department of Education to publish clear, accessible information to help districts compare them.

WestEd, the education research non-profit hired by the department to assess the applications, reviewed 37 eligible providers with a panel of 29 teachers and experts. The reviewers scored programmes against 18 criteria, including support for English learners, on a three-level scale from strong to minimal. The approved programmes ranged from 30 to 53 points. At the top were the California Association for Bilingual Education and SchoolKit, LLC, both of which scored strongly across 17 of the 18 measures. Among the names near the top were the Los Angeles County Office of Education’s Getting Reading Right, the Sacramento County Office of Education, the Reading League and CORE Learning.

At the lower end of the approved list was Amplify Education, the national education technology company. Advocates said that range matters because some programmes showed only limited evidence in key areas, while others have stronger track records. Board members acknowledged that districts will need more than a bare list; they said the department should provide detailed public materials so school leaders can judge which programme best fits their students. The next test will come later this year, when the board takes up reading textbooks and materials, and decides whether to keep the list broad or be more selective in highlighting the strongest phonics-based options.