Policy Order O-19

WHEREAS: It has come to the attention of the Cambridge City Council that "An Act Relative to Third Grade Reading Proficiency," legislation that would focus state efforts to ensure that children become proficient readers by the end of third grade was introduced last week at the Massachusetts State House by Representative Martha Walz and Senator Katherine Clark ; and

WHEREAS: The legislation would build on the important work underway in Massachusetts to promote literacy. It would establish the Massachusetts Early Reading Council within the Executive Office of Education to advise state education departments on statewide early language and reading strategies for children from birth to third grade. The council would emphasize professional development, curriculum, assessment and family engagement; and

WHEREAS: Additionally, the Massachusetts Early Learning Council would provide guidance to ensure that professional development is on-site, data-driven, linked to practice, collaborative and sustained over time to create a culture of continuous improvement, curriculum is language rich, engaging and rigorous, and family engagement is open and ongoing and supports children's language and literacy development. The 17-member council would be established within the Executive Office of Education and would be co-chaired by the Secretary of Education and a recognized expert in children's language and literacy development. Representatives from the state's legislators, early educators, parents, elementary school principals, superintendents, reading specialists, school committee members, teachers unions, pediatricians and advocates would serve on the council; and

WHEREAS: Despite Massachusetts's well-earned reputation as a national leader in education, more than one-third of the  state's third grade students (37%) are not proficient readers, and third grade reading MCAS scores have been stagnant since 2001. Research indicates that 74% of children who read poorly in third grade have a drastically reduced likelihood of graduating from high school; and

WHEREAS: Children who read proficiently by the end of third grade are well prepared to learn in any subject. Everything else on the educational agenda-eliminating the achievement gap, reducing the dropout rate, increasing college completion, improving science and math skills-becomes considerably easier to tackle; now therefore be it

ORDERED: That The Cambridge City Council go on record confirming its support for said legislation; and be in further

ORDERED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to transmit a suitably engrossed copy of this order to the Cambridge Delegation and to Governor Deval Patrick on behalf of the entire City Council.