California is one step closer to ensuring that every child learns to read, thanks to the power of parent and community advocacy!
This week, lawmakers passed AB 1454, a landmark bill designed to close California’s literacy gap by bringing evidence-based reading strategies into classrooms. The bill now heads to Governor Newsom’s desk for signature.
Parent leaders across Los Angeles played a key role in getting this bill across the finish line. Through Innovate’s Parent Leader Teams (PLTs), parents traveled to Sacramento to testify and participate in media events as part of the California Kids Read coalition.
Parents also built strong local support by signing on to the bill, collaborating with organizations like Families in Schools and EdVoice, and sharing information in their local communities in SELA, South LA, and Westlake. Innovate’s Black Parent Network strengthened its advocacy through the Literacy is Life campaign and, with support from our Research, Analysis, and Policy (RAP) team, produced a literacy brief highlighting community needs and solutions.
This victory shows what’s possible when parents have the tools, training, and community to raise their voices and demand better outcomes for kids. Innovate is proud to convene, organize, and amplify these efforts, and we’ll be ready to celebrate when AB 1454 is signed into law.