Governor Murphy signs bills intended to boost student literacy

The new law requires semi-annual literacy screenings for students through the third grade and mandated intervention for those falling behind. (Courtesy of the New Jersey Governor's Office)

Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill Tuesday that will require the state’s youngest students to be screened for literacy in what supporters said is a bid to claw back from pandemic learning losses.

The bill , which won unanimous support in both chambers of the Legislature, will require students in kindergarten through third grade to be screened for literacy at least twice a year beginning in the 2025-26 school year, with parental notifications and mandated intervention for those falling behind their peers.

“Recent years have brought forth many challenges for our schools and our children. Understanding that strong reading skills have the potential to open countless doors for young learners, we must work together to support accelerated literacy learning in communities across the state,” Murphy said at a bill signing ceremony at Newark’s Park Elementary School.

The bill further requires the Department of Education to create a literacy training program for teachers and librarians serving students through the sixth grade.

A working group on student literacy created by the bill will be responsible for drafting recommendations on the literacy screening process and creating materials to enhance students’ reading skills.

“You look at the numbers in the state of New Jersey — third and fourth graders, more than half of the general population are not meeting great expectations in reading,” said bill sponsor Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex). “From birth to third grade, you are learning to read … From third grade and beyond, you are reading to learn.”

A separate bill signed Tuesday will create an office within the Department of Education that will be tasked with implementing policies to boost literacy and study how to close student achievement gaps.

“We have the most dedicated professionals and teachers. When they’re given the resources they need to serve students, they open up a world of possibilities for everybody,” said Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-Middlesex).

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