Student test scores improve; Newsom signs literacy support law

Students in California, and in Los Angeles, have improved their English Language Arts (ELA), math and science proficiencies since last year, new data shows. To continue supporting students and teachers in the classroom, Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed a bill that will strengthen literacy by increasing support for educators.

Last week, Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1454, championed by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas), which aims to improve K-8 literacy by mandating evidence-based reading instruction in schools. The new law also provides funding for educator training and requires the state Board of Education to adopt new, evidence-based instructional materials.

“At a time when our federal government is focused on dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, in California, we’re doubling down on our efforts to support our schools, students and teachers,” said Newsom in a news release. He added, “through significant investments in initiatives like community schools, universal meals and literacy coaches – and legislative action like the bill I signed today – we’re working to provide students with the resources they need to succeed. And California’s promising test scores show our efforts are paying off.”

The mandated reading instruction, also known as the science of reading, relies on five pillars: phonemic awareness, identifying distinct units of sounds, vocabulary, comprehension and fluency. The Commission on Teacher Credentialing will be required to update credential programs to include training on the new materials.

The signing of AB 1454 was highlighted by released data from the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) and the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC), which showed that across the state, K-12 students improved their test scores by 1.8% in ELA and math, respectively, and 2% in science.

The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) was a standout among the data released last week. The rate of LAUSD students meeting or exceeding the state standard increased by 3.4% in ELA, 3.9% in math and 3.3% in math. These are the highest scores LAUSD has seen since students began taking the assessment in 2015. 

“This is a bill whose time has come,” said LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho during the bill signing at Alexander Science Center School in Exposition Park last week. “Adopting the right curriculum, right standard, right training and the right methodology is critically important at this point. All children can learn. There are no excuses and they deserve the very best from us. AB 1454 is a tremendous leap in the progress that we need to make with the students of our state.”

LAUSD’s 2024-25 test scores also surpassed how the district’s students were performing before the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“LAUSD is having a very special moment in history, one without precedent,” said Carvalho, adding, "based on state assessments, this year … everybody moved up. Not just by a little bit, but in a very statistically compelling way.”

Notably, Black, Latino and low-income students also saw improved test scores across all three categories.

AB 1454 builds on the Golden State Literacy Plan that Newsom launched earlier this year to improve reading outcomes. The Literacy Plan includes:

• $1.7 billion for a block professional development grant;

• $500 million for literacy and math coaches in TK-12 programs;

• An additional $387.6 million for the Learning Recovery Emergency Block Grant;

• $40 million to support literacy screenings; and

• $25 million to facilitate implementation of math and literacy initiatives, highlight best practices and create a clearinghouse for state-developed resources.

“This game is not over, we are not even at the end of the first quarter,” said Carvalho. He continued, “but the indicators are solid in terms of the strategies that we have deployed, the investments we have made and the unflinching, unapologetic way with which we have taken on school reform and transformative work on behalf of our students.”