How the Right to Read Legislation Relates to CURATE and EdReports

May 2026

CURATE: An official (and voluntary) Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) initiative, designed to support school districts to select high-quality instructional materials.

EdReports: An independent nonprofit organization that evaluates K-12 instruction materials. It utilizes teams of expert educators to rate textbooks and digital programs based on alignment to college/career ready standards, usability, and ability to build student knowledge.

What this means for the Right to Read bill: FAQ’s

• How will the new literacy legislation change the way CURATE reviews early literacy programs?

• Answer: Current CURATE rubrics evaluate broad ELA and literacy alignment rather than exclusively auditing the strict mechanics of the science of reading.

• ● Once the bill passes, its precise definition of evidence-based foundational K–3 literacy instruction (section 2) will require DESE to adjust its approach - either by augmenting the existing CURATE K–5 rubric or creating a separate, rapid-response vetting track dedicated entirely to foundational literacy.

• Is a curriculum required to be approved by EdReports before the state's CURATE panels will review it?

• Answer: No.

• While CURATE panels utilize EdReports data to save time and avoid reviewing lesson-by-lesson content from scratch, EdReports is not a prerequisite.

• ● Publishers have always had the option to submit alternative comprehensive reviews against college- and career-ready standards to get into the CURATE pipeline.

• Will our district lose access to Literacy Launch or PRISM grant funding if we use a high-quality curriculum that hasn't been reviewed by CURATE yet?

• DESE defines the eligibility criteria for each competitive grant, including PRISM grants. School districts should use the identified process for submitting questions prior to applying for funding if they are unsure if their adopted curriculum meets DESE's requirements.URATE yet?

• Click here for more information regarding CURATE and EdReports, including the review process, criteria, DESE grants, and future updates.s.