BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | ACR 62|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: ACR 62
Author: Brownley (D), et al.
Amended: 7/1/11 in Assembly
Vote: 21
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : Read and adopted, 7/1/11
SUBJECT : Read Across California Month
SOURCE : Junior League of Los Angeles, Inc.
DIGEST : This resolution proclaims the month of March of
every year as Read Across California Month, and requests
public and private stakeholders to work together to raise
awareness of the importance of reading to young children,
pupils and California citizens by encouraging everyone to
read for 30 minutes for 30 days during the month of March
every year in conjunction with the Read Across American
campaign held annually on March 2.
ANALYSIS :
Resolution Findings
1.Reading is a fundamental skill that is the cornerstone
of a life of academic success as well as a fulfilling
adult life. The ability to learn about new subjects, to
find necessary information on issues ranging from health
problems and consumer protection, and to pursue academic
research in science and the arts, depends on the ability
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to read.
2.The frequency and regularity of reading independently
has a direct correlation to the level of reading skills.
The more a person reads, the better they become at
reading.
3.Reading out loud to children increases their interest in
mastering reading and exposes children to proper
vocabulary, grammar, and phrasing, and enhances the
development of their own reading skills.
4.According to the Nation's Report Card, in California, 54
percent of grade 4 pupils and 64 percent of grade 8
pupils tested in early 2009 scored at or above the basic
reading level, a measure indicating a partial mastery of
grade-level content. Comparatively, this is below
national estimates suggesting 66 percent of all grade 4
pupils and 74 percent of all grade 8 pupils scored at
basic or above levels.
5.The 2010 Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR)
Program for the California Standards Tests reported that
only 52 percent of pupils grades 2 to 11, inclusive,
were proficient in English-Language Arts.
6.The Public Policy Institute of California's report,
"Lessons in Reading Reform: Finding What Works" (2010),
highlights the fact that struggling elementary and
middle schools pupils who are given extra time for
reading can make sizable gains in literacy.
7.The California Department of Education states that
reading is important, both inside and outside of the
school environment. Reading and literacy skills provide
pupils with the keys to lifelong learning. The more
pupils read, the better readers they will become. Every
effort should be made both at school and at home to get
pupils to do as much reading as possible.
8.According to the National Assessment of Education
Progress (NAEP) 1994 Reading Assessment, 87 percent of
pupils who reported reading for fun on their own time
once a month or more performed at the proficient level,
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while 13 percent of pupils who reported never or hardly
ever reading for fun performed at the basic level.
9.The American Academy of Pediatrics now recognizes the
importance of early reading experiences and recommends
daily reading to children from at least six months of
age.
10.A United States Department of Education analysis found
that children who were read to at least three times a
week by a family member were almost twice as likely to
score in the top 25 percent in reading than children who
were read to less than three times a week.
11.Studies on emergent literacy have shown that children
who are read to from an early age are more successful at
learning to read.
12.In conjunction with the Read Across America campaign
held annually on March 2, this resolution establishes
the Read Across California reading initiative, which
encourages the citizen of California to read for 30
minutes for 30 days during the month of March.
13.Private and public sector organizations and agencies, as
well as private and public citizens, may participate in
this reading initiative to let our pupils know that
their academic success and reading ability is important
to the economy, stability, and prosperity of the State
of California.
14.Participants from the public and private sectors may
participate in reading to children in the public
schools, private schools, libraries, or other
appropriate community facilities.
15.This public awareness campaign will be implemented
through private and public partnerships and not seek
state funding at this time.
16.The Read Across California initiative will foster a love
of reading and encourage our young people and all
citizens of our state to explore the many exciting
wonders of the world through books.
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FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 8/24/11)
Junior League of Los Angles, Inc. (source)
California Association of Private School Organizations
California Library Association
California School Boards Association
California State University
California Teachers Association
First 5 Association of California
First 5 LA
Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
Jewish Vocational Service
Junior League of California
Junior League of San Francisco, Inc.
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners - Los
Angeles Chapter
Reach Out and Read Los Angeles County Coalition
University of California
CPM:cm 8/24/11 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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