Literacy Legislation
Families In Schools, with EdVoice and Decoding Dyslexia California, has co-sponsored AB 1121.
Introduced by Assemblymember Blanca Rubio, AB 1121 is a transformative bill aimed at addressing California’s literacy crisis. It marks a significant step toward improving literacy instruction for students, particularly the state’s 3.6 million low-income learners.
AB 1121 focuses on two critical areas, teacher training and instructional materials aligned to research on how children learn to read, moving beyond guidance and into action by setting clear expectations for both—a critical step in reversing the literacy crisis that disproportionately affects low-income students, students of color, and English learners.
What the bill's author and co-sponsors have to say about AB 1121:
“We cannot afford to continue on this path. The education of our children depends on the urgent actions we take today. This bill represents a clear commitment to ensuring that all students, regardless of their socioeconomic background, have the opportunity to become proficient readers. It is a first step toward equity in education.” — Assemblymember Blanca Rubio
“We are grateful for Assemblymember Rubio’s leadership and courage in bringing real transformation through explicit policies that align literacy instruction to practices that a vast amount of reading research–in this country and around the world–shows are essential for children to become proficient readers. This bill is not just a response to a crisis—it is a call to action that families are demanding and we cannot ignore.” — Yolie Flores, President & CEO of Families In Schools
“This bill is about more than just reading—it is about equity and ensuring all children, particularly those who have been historically underserved, have the foundation they need to succeed academically.” — Marshall Tuck, CEO of EdVoice
“For far too long, our schools have been using methods that are not effective for struggling readers, including students with dyslexia. AB 1121 provides an essential pathway to give educators the training they need to meet the needs of all students.” — Megan Potente, Co-State Director of Decoding Dyslexia CA
Current Legislation
The current early literacy bill, AB 1121, represents the second legislative attempt by Families In Schools and its partners to address the state’s literacy crisis.
Co-Sponsors of AB 1121 (Rubio)
AB 1121 is co-sponsored by three organizations: Families In Schools, Decoding Dyslexia CA, and EdVoice. Learn more about Decoding Dyslexia and EdVoice below:
Decoding Dyslexia CA is a grassroots movement driven by California families, educators, and professionals dedicated to improving literacy outcomes for struggling readers, especially those with dyslexia. They work to empower families, advocate for equitable access to evidence-based literacy instruction, and raise dyslexia awareness.
EdVoice is reshaping public education in California so that students from low-income communities have futures filled with opportunity.
History of California's Literacy Crisis
California has long been grappling with an alarmingly high rate of students who are not reading at grade level. For many students, especially those in low-income communities, this early literacy gap has long-term consequences that hinder their academic success and future opportunities.
Currently, only four in 10 Californian third graders are reading at grade level–a number that drops to three in 10 for low-income Latino students and two in 10 for students with disabilities, English learners, and low-income Black students. These rates have remained mostly flat over the past decade, reflecting a systemic issue that demands urgent action.
Third grade is a critical time as students shift from learning to read to reading to learn. In addition, students who are not proficient readers by the end of third grade are four times less likely to graduate from high school, and eight times less likely if they are from a low-income community.
How to Learn More About & Support AB 1121
AB 1121 represents a hopeful new chapter for California’s literacy efforts, and we look forward to the continued support of legislators, educators, and families as we work together to ensure a brighter future for California’s children. Learn more about AB 1121 (Rubio) using the resources below, and join us in supporting the bill by registering for updates on the campaign, sharing your own early literacy story, or signing the petition of support!
Past Legislation
FIS is committed to advocating for comprehensive early literacy legislation, no matter how many bills it takes to reverse the literacy crisis and ensure all children in Los Angeles—regardless of their background—can read and thrive.
AB 2222 (Rubio)
On February 7, 2024, Assemblymember Blanca Rubio introduced AB 2222 to ensure all kids can read by addressing one of the biggest barriers to learning to read: effective literacy instruction. Though AB 2222 died in the spring of 2024, Families In Schools was proud to co-sponsor, along with EdVoice and Decoding Dyslexia California.
AB 2222 had over 60 supporting organizations, more than 1,000 individual petitions, and 16 bi-partisan co-authors. In a matter of days, 500 emails were sent to the chairs of the Assembly Education and Higher Education Committees and Speaker Rivas.