Statement from Marshall Tuck, CEO of EdVoice, on Governor Newsom’s May Revision
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2025
Prioritizing Kids and Teachers with Investments in Early Literacy
Today, EdVoice CEO Marshall Tuck issued the following statement in response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s May Revision of the 2025-2026 state budget:
“Governor Newsom’s May Revision reflects real leadership in a tough budget year. Despite significant fiscal headwinds, the Governor prioritized the needs of California’s children – investing $200 million in evidence-based literacy practices for elementary teachers. This is a clear commitment to providing educators with the tools needed to effectively teach children in California to learn to read.
We know that reading is the gateway to a life of opportunity. The investment in evidence-based professional development for teachers builds on a comprehensive approach to uplifting the reading outcomes of children across the state – including universal screening for reading difficulties set to begin in the 2025-26 school year. We are grateful to this administration’s commitment to early literacy, as well as the leadership of Speaker Rivas, Assemblymember Rubio, and Assemblymember Muratsuchi in introducing AB 1454, which will align both professional development and instructional materials with decades of reading research on how children learn to read.
Governor Newsom is leading the way by investing in our teachers, kids, and our future. We urge the Legislature to approve the Governor’s proposal to invest $200 million in teacher training in evidence-based reading and continue this momentum by advancing AB 1454.”
About EdVoice:
EdVoice is a 501(c)4 nonprofit education advocacy organization driving California state policy change to transform our state’s public education system so it effectively prepares all children for opportunities in college, career, and life. To combat the current system’s inequities, EdVoice engages in direct advocacy with policymakers to influence the passage or defeat of key legislation, leads education and awareness campaigns to raise up our policy priority areas, and provides strategic political funding through our EdVoice for the Kids PAC to leaders prioritizing students from low-income communities.
Media Inquiries:
###
