Tell PA Leaders: Don’t Leave Our Kids—and Our Future—Behind

Whether Pennsylvania’s literacy legislation moves through “traditional” channels or through the Omnibus School Code Bill—a critical piece of the state budget—the outcome is shaped by a small group: legislative leaders. They hold the power to include (or exclude) the bills and funding needed to make meaningful change.

That’s why your voice is so critical right now.

As residents of Pennsylvania, we must urge our leaders to act. Our state is losing out on over $113 billion in potential annual lifetime earnings because we’ve failed to close the literacy gap (go to www.palieracy.org/resources to see the literacy crisis’ impact on your county). That’s not just a crisis for students—it’s an economic emergency for the entire commonwealth.

Reading is the foundation for all future learning and opportunity. Other states are acting boldly and seeing results. We can’t afford to fall behind.

We’re calling on legislative leadership to:

• Pass SB 700 / HB 684 — Support comprehensive, science-aligned literacy legislation
• Fund $100 million in the FY26 budget to support structured literacy training, materials, and coaching

Let’s ensure every child in Pennsylvania has the opportunity to learn to read and thrive. When kids read, PA succeeds!