Teacher leaders celebrate a generational win for Massachusetts students and turn their focus to classroom implementation
Boston, Massachusetts, June 26, 2026—Teach Plus Massachusetts celebrates Governor Maura Healey’s signing of the Right to Read Act into law today. This landmark legislation brings evidence-based reading instruction, high-quality materials, and stronger teacher preparation to every Massachusetts classroom. The House and Senate adopted the consensus bill just last week.
“With the Right to Read Act, Massachusetts is taking its biggest step in a generation to close persistent opportunity gaps in reading by aligning teacher preparation with evidence-based practices and sustainable funding,” said Teach Plus Massachusetts Executive Director Chris Marino. “But passing the bill is just the first chapter. The real transformation happens classroom by classroom, school by school. Together with our teacher leaders and coalition partners, Teach Plus is rolling up our sleeves to lead the work of implementation and make sure every educator has the training, materials, and support to unlock the power of literacy for every student.”
The Right to Read Act arrives at a pivotal moment. Nearly 60 percent of the commonwealth’s students in grades 3–8 are not proficient in basic reading skills, with the widest gaps falling on Black, Latino, multilingual, and low-income children. The bill requires every district to adopt evidence-based literacy curricula grounded in the science of how children actually learn to read.
Teach Plus and its teacher leaders have led the charge for the Right to Read Act from the start, testifying at the Statehouse, publishing op-eds, and partnering with the Mass Reads Coalition. Earlier this spring, Teach Plus Massachusetts and Teach For America Massachusetts co-hosted “The Next Chapter” literacy summit in Springfield, bringing educators and state policymakers together to plan for the regions hit hardest by reading gaps. Now Teach Plus teacher leaders are turning their focus from the statehouse to the schoolhouse, partnering with districts to bring these practices into daily classroom use.
“After years of fighting for this moment as a classroom teacher, watching this bill head to the Governor’s desk is everything,” said Jennifer Amento, Teach Plus Massachusetts Policy Fellowship alumna and 6th grade teacher in Mashpee. “For years, teachers have asked for the training and proven tools we need to reach every reader. Our voices shaped this law, and now we’re ready for the real work. I can’t wait to partner with my district to bring this bill to life in every classroom, so that every Massachusetts student learns to read.”
About Teach Plus
The mission of Teach Plus is to empower excellent, experienced, and diverse teachers to take leadership over key policy and practice issues that affect their students’ success. Since 2009, Teach Plus has developed thousands of teacher leaders across the country to exercise their leadership in shaping education policy and improving teaching and learning for students. teachplus.org/ma/
