HOW I VOTED ON H.4670, H.4671, and H.4672

HOW I VOTED ON H.4670

H.4670- AN ACT RELATIVE TO PERSONAL FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION

On Wednesday, October 29, 2025 I voted YES on H.4670, which requires school districts to provide instruction to middle- and high-school students on personal financial literacy, starting in the 2026 school year and creates a financial literacy trust fund for educating middle – and high school students on personal financial literacy.

The bipartisan vote was 155 YAY and 0 NAY (unanimous). It now goes to the Senate for consideration.

The Financial Literacy Trust Fund

The funds may be used for procurement, development and distribution of personal financial literacy educational resources and materials, as well as professional development opportunities –including trainings, seminars, conferences and materials, for educators to use in teaching personal financial literacy.

Financial Literacy Instruction

The bill requires school districts to provide instruction to middle- and high-school students on personal financial literacy, starting in the 2026 school year, consistent with standards set by DESE, including:

• earning and spending income, local, state and federal taxes, charitable giving, methods of payment, consumer protection, balancing ledgers and checkbooks and budgeting;

• long-term saving, the role of banks and financial institutions, interest both simple and compound, financial regulation and planning for the future;

• using credit and making investments, risks of various financial instruments and basic diversification of assets;

• protecting and insuring assets, preventing identity theft and avoiding online scams;

• emerging technologies in the financial industry, a basic understanding of crypto currencies, online commerce and computer stock-trading, how to evaluate media content, including digital content relating to personal finance matters and how to evaluate risk; and

• rights and responsibilities of renting or buying a home or making other large purchases or investments.

The bill requires DESE to assist schools by facilitating access to high-quality curricular materials and professional development opportunities, which may be in person or through audio, video, or other electronic media. To measure progress, the bill requires DESE to report annually on personal financial literacy instruction.

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HOW I VOTED ON H.4671

H.4671- AN ACT EXPANDING STUDENT ACCESS TO THE STATE SEAL OF BILITERACY

On Wednesday, October 29, 2025 I voted YES on H.4671, an update to allow students to earn the Seal of Biliteracy through an assessment or an equivalent alternative to the MCAS as determined by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. It would allow current and future students to achieve this Seal of Biliteracy, regardless of the status of the MCAS. The bipartisan vote was 155 YAY and 0 NAY (unanimous). It now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Seal of Biliteracy

Currently, a state seal of biliteracy may be awarded by school districts to students who have attained a high level of proficiency in English and at least one additional language. The seal appears on the transcript or diploma of the graduating senior and is a statement of accomplishment for future employers and for college admissions.

To qualify, a student must meet criteria established by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), including a specified level of performance on: the 10th grade language arts exams of the MCAS, and at least one nationally recognized and readily available assessment that measures literacy in a language other than English. The bill passed today updates these criteria by changing the MCAS requirement to allow another assessment or equivalent alternative to be established by BESE.

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HOW I VOTED ON H.4672

H.4672 – AN ACT RELATIVE TO TEACHER PREPARATION AND STUDENT LITERACY

On Wednesday, October 29, 2025 I voted YES on H.4672, which bolsters early reading

proficiency across the Commonwealth by updating teacher preparation programs and approved literacy curricula to align with evidence-based literacy instruction models. It will establish guidelines and policies for literacy screenings, data-reporting requirements, and provide resources and oversight to ensure that students achieve critical reading benchmarks in early grades (K-3).

The bipartisan vote was 155 YAY and 0 NAY (unanimous), it now goes to the Senate for

consideration.

Early Literacy and Teacher Preparation

English Language Arts scores continue to lag behind pre-pandemic levels. Almost 60 percent of all students in grades 3-8 are not meeting or exceeding expectations in English Language Arts (ELA), and 50 percent in grade 10 are not meeting or exceeding ELA expectations. Additionally, achievement gaps among all major racial and ethnic student groups, students with disabilities, low-income students, and English learners have widened when compared with 2019, according to data from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

The early literacy bill passed by the House today defines evidence-based early literacy as grounded in scientific research methods, and demonstrated to produce significant and positive effects on student learning outcomes. Many school districts in Massachusetts have switched to evidence-based early literacy curricula, and some have been assisted by grants awarded through the state’s Literacy Launch program, administered by Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and funded by the Legislature at $35 million. However, some school districts have yet to fully adopt proven literacy curricula, despite being the most effective ways to

improve reading outcomes.

The bill provides a framework for DESE to identify and approve a list of high-quality curricula that school districts will select from for kindergarten through third grade literacy. It also allows districts to apply to DESE to use a K-3 literacy instruction curriculum that is not on DESE’s list of high-quality curricula, provided DESE verifies that it uses evidence-based literacy instruction.

The bill supports teachers by requiring DESE to provide tools and resources, including online materials and free training modules, to aid districts with professional development aligned with evidence-based literacy instruction for K-3. It also ensures that educator preparation programs are preparing future educators in alignment with evidence-based literacy instruction. To measure progress, the bill requires schools to report on early literacy instruction starting in the 2026 school year, and requires DESE to report annually on literacy instruction. Finally, the bill

requires a study and district reporting on the literacy workforce in schools and school libraries, it also allows literacy grants to be used to coordinate screenings, professional development, and library investments.

There were several amendments considered:

Amendment #6, related to early identification and intervention in preventing long-term reading failure. The amendment would change the threshold criteria from “significantly” below to “at risk of falling” below. House Education Committee Chair Gordon spoke in opposition, expressing his concern that the proposed change in threshold criteria was too broad for DESE to effectively enforce.

Based on the Chairman’s comments, I voted NO, and the vote was 23 YAY and 131 NAY. The amendment did not pass.

Amendment #8, establishes a public-school library access and literacy educator workforce study to review and make recommendations relative to the education workforce in public school districts in the area of reading and literacy development.

I voted YES, and the vote was 133 YAY to 22 NAY.

Amendment #9, expands the use of Literacy Launch Fund uses.

I voted YES, and the vote was 140 YAY to 15 NAY.

Amendment #10, requires reporting on district literacy educator staffing levels.

I voted YES, and the vote was 133 YAY to 22 NAY.

Amendment #12, adds language that allows using pictures to supplement evidence-based literacy, instruction, specifically, curricula selected to meet a curriculum framework for kindergarten through grade 3 literacy may use pictures as a supplement to support reading literacy, provided that the curriculum that uses pictures shall be in compliance with certain provisions of the bill.

I voted YES and the vote was 155 YAY and 0 NAY (unanimous).