Pennsylvania lawmakers recently passed the FY2026–27 state budget, and we were pleased to see it include another $10 million investment in early literacy.
This marks the second consecutive year that Pennsylvania has invested $10 million in early literacy and reflects continued bipartisan support for improving reading outcomes across the Commonwealth.
The funding will help advance implementation of Act 47 of 2025, Pennsylvania’s comprehensive literacy law. Beginning in the 2027–28 school year, Act 47 requires schools to:
<ul>
<li>Adopt evidence-based literacy curricula aligned with the science of reading </li>
<li>Provide educators with training in structured literacy </li>
<li>Administer universal literacy screenings to students in grades K–3 so reading difficulties can be identified and addressed early </li>
</ul>
These reforms have the potential to transform reading instruction across Pennsylvania, but successful implementation will require meaningful support for schools and educators. This investment can help lay the groundwork for teacher training, instructional coaching, high-quality curricular materials, literacy screening, and other systems needed to put Act 47 into practice.
The need is urgent. Today, only one in three Pennsylvania fourth graders is reading proficiently, with even lower outcomes for Black, Hispanic, and low-income students. We know these gaps will not close on their own—and we also know that sustained investments in evidence-based instruction can lead to meaningful gains.
While $10 million is not enough to fully implement Act 47 statewide, it represents important progress, particularly in what proved to be a challenging budget year. It also provides a strong foundation for continued advocacy for sustained, recurring funding and a dedicated literacy line item in future state budgets.
Now is the time to thank lawmakers for continuing to prioritize early literacy—and to let them know we are ready to keep working together to ensure every child in Pennsylvania has the opportunity to become a confident, proficient reader.
Send a message to your lawmakers thanking them for supporting early literacy in the FY2026–27 state budget.

Thank Lawmakers for Renewing $10 Million for Early Literacy in the FY2026–27 Budget

Thank you for supporting the inclusion of $10 million for early literacy in Pennsylvania’s FY2026–27 state budget.

This continued investment will help advance implementation of Act 47 of 2025, which requires schools to use evidence-based literacy curricula, provide educators with training in structured literacy, and screen students in grades K–3 so reading difficulties can be identified and addressed early.

At a time when only one in three Pennsylvania fourth graders is reading proficiently, this funding represents meaningful progress and an important reaffirmation that early literacy remains a bipartisan priority.

We know there is still much more work ahead. Fully implementing Act 47 will require sustained, recurring investment so that every school has the resources and support needed to put these reforms into practice successfully.

Thank you again for prioritizing early literacy and for your commitment to ensuring every child in Pennsylvania has the opportunity to become a confident, proficient reader.