BSP! Monthly is Building a Stronger PA’s online publication that keeps Pennsylvanians up to date with the latest news in the Commonwealth. BSP! Monthly highlights policies, elected officials, and community members who are fighting for a stronger Pennsylvania.

PA NEWS

BOOSTING EARLY LITERACY

Only 34% of Pennsylvania 4th graders are proficient in reading. This is an alarming statistic that requires an all-hands-on-deck approach. We must ensure our children are receiving the education they deserve.

It’s good to see State Reps. Jason Ortitay (R-Cecil) and Justin Fleming (D-Dauphin) tackle these issues with the introduction of HB998.

Here is the three-stage approach set forth in this legislation:

– Create an evidence-based reading curriculum
– Institute a universal screening test to identify struggling readers in the first 30 days of school
– Using the screening data, implement intervention plans to keep children from falling behind

It’s time to elevate the conversation around enhancing early literacy in our school system. All of us at Building a Stronger Pennsylvania are proud to stand by Reps. Ortitay and Fleming as they put in the work.

→ Learn more: Early literacy legislation needs to be advanced (Observer-Reporter)

→ Learn more: ‘Mississippi miracle’: Kids’ reading scores have soared in Deep South states (AP News)

 PA SPOTLIGHT

RESTORING VOTER CONFIDENCE

Primary elections are attracting more and more candidates, leading to a situation where it’s possible for a candidate to win with only a small fraction of the votes. The result is an electorate that is left feeling frustrated and unrepresented in general elections.

The bottom line is this: the winner of a primary election should be the clear frontrunner of that party.

With this in mind, Senators Ryan Aument (R-36) and Frank Farry (R-6) plan to introduce legislation that would ensure primary election winners are supported by at least half of primary voters. There are already ten other states that follow this model, requiring a runoff in primary elections if candidates don’t meet the designated threshold.

Pennsylvania voters should have the tools to ensure that nominees who emerge are a clear consensus pick, not the winner of a narrow plurality.

Runoff elections will lead to better general election candidates and better government.

→ Read more: Changes proposed to Pennsylvania primary election format (ABC 27)