Representative Steven S. Howitt supports bills to promote student reading and financial literacy

House also votes to expand access to the state seal of biliteracy

Boston – State Representative Steven S. Howitt (R-Seekonk) recently supported a series of bills to enhance student proficiency in reading and financial literacy and to expand the criteria for students to attain the state seal of biliteracy.

On October 29, the House engrossed House Bill 4670, An Act relative to personal financial literacy education; House Bill 4671, An Act expanding student access to the state seal of biliteracy; and House Bill 4672, An Act relative to teacher preparation and student literacy. All three bills passed unanimously.

Representative Howitt said House Bill 4670 would require school districts, beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, to provide instruction on personal financial literacy to middle school and high school students, using standards established by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Under the provisions of the bill, personal financial literacy instruction will cover a range of topics, including earning and spending income, taxes, budgeting, identity theft, using credit, and making investments such as purchasing a home. The Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education will be responsible for filing an annual report detailing the progress of these personal literacy education programs.

According to Representative Howitt, House Bill 4670 also establishes a Personal Financial Literacy Education Fund, to be administered by the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education. This fund will be used for the procurement of materials and professional opportunities related to educating middle school and high school students on personal financial literacy such as the procurement of materials and professional opportunities. It will also support a new competitive grant program to promote personal financial literacy which will be available to every public school and school district.

House Bill 4671 would expand the required criteria for awarding the state seal of biliteracy to students who are proficient in English and one or more additional languages. Representative Howitt explained that with the recent elimination of the MCAS, this proposal will recognize other assessments or an equivalent alternative established by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education when determining if a student qualifies for the state seal of biliteracy.

To improve student proficiency in reading, House Bill 4672 places a heavy emphasis on the utilization of literacy instruction curricula that is based on scientific evidence and is shown “to produce significant and positive effects on student learning outcomes.” It calls for the incorporation of the “five research-based areas in reading instruction” include phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Representative Howitt noted that currently, over a third of Massachusetts school districts still use literacy curricula that DESE considers “low quality.”

House Bill 4672 requires students in grades K-3 to be assessed on their reading ability at least twice a year. DESE will be responsible for creating a definition for students who are “significantly below” grade level benchmarks, and school districts will be required to develop an intervention plan for students who fit this definition. The district will also be required to notify parents within 30 days following a screening that places their child in this category.

During floor debate, Representative Kelly Pease (R-Westfield) offered an amendment that would require DESE, subject to appropriation, to reimburse school districts for screening assessments and progress monitoring, but the amendment failed on a voice vote. Representative Alyson Sullivan-Almeida (R-Abington) also filed an amendment to require school districts to identify students who are “at risk of falling” below grade level benchmarks to promote early intervention, rather than waiting until the student is “significantly below” these benchmarks. Representative Howitt supported the amendment, but it was rejected on a vote of 23-130.

According to Representative Howitt, House Bill 4672 also updates an existing paid teacher apprenticeship pilot program, which will be administered by DESE, subject to appropriation, to partner with colleges or other institutions to serve high-need school districts. The bill defines a “high-needs district” as a school or district with a high percentage of low-income students and English learners, which may include a school or district implementing turnaround plans.

DESE must submit a report after 1 year to the legislature detailing the outcome of the pilot program. After 3 years, the department must submit a report evaluating the impact of apprentices on student outcomes as compared to teachers not participating in the pilot program.

The three House bills now move to the Senate for its consideration.