Right to Read Reconciliation: Where the Senate & House Legislation Stand
May 2026
Two bills currently before our legislature (S.2924 and H.4672) seek to build a comprehensive plan to establish evidence-based early literacy instruction across the state. Here is a look at how the 2026 Right to Read legislation would modernize early literacy instruction in our state:
Both House and Senate Bills:
REQUIRE HQIM
● Authorizes the state to evaluate whether district materials align with the science of reading.
● Requires districts to select High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) from a list approved by the State.
● Permits waiver requests from HQIM requirements for districts using curricula that the State determines are evidence-based.
ESTABLISH OVERSIGHT
● Requires districts to show how they’ll use evidence-based reading instruction over the next three years.
● Tasks the state with producing district data requirements for implementation monitoring.
PROVIDE ADD’L SUPPORTS
● Requires districts to administer reading screeners at least 2x per year in K-3.
● Provides ongoing training and support for educators.
● Requires the Commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to publish annual data on which screeners districts use.
● Requires the state to issue guidelines and protocols for struggling readers identified through screeners.
How the Bills Differ:
In Senate Bill Additionally:
● Establishes a $25 million Early Literacy Fund to support high-quality instructional materials and professional development for teachers.
● Requires policies and guidelines for teacher preparation programs to align with evidence-based literacy instruction.
● Says districts must begin adopting high quality instructional materials (HQIM) before the 2027-28 school year.
In House Bill Additionally:
● Prohibits districts from using discredited three cueing strategies.
● Permits districts to apply for a "literacy instruction curriculum pilot program" to determine whether a curriculum is evidence-based.
● Expressly grants the DESE Commissioner the authority to approve teacher preparation programs, and requires the Commissioner to monitor individual program performance.
● Says districts must begin reporting required HQIM to the state in the 2026-27 school year.
The two versions of the bill are now in conference committee, during which time any differences will be reconciled. Once language is finalized, the bill goes to Gov. Maura Healey for her signature.
