Ortitay Expresses Disappointment with Reading List, Calls for Action

June 6, 2025

HARRISBURG – Rep. Jason Ortitay (R-Washington/Allegheny), long-time literacy advocate and leader of the movement in the General Assembly, today wrote to Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Acting Secretary Carrie Rowe to voice his displeasure with the department’s recently released reading list pursuant to Act 135 of 2024 and request action.

The law, championed by Ortitay, requires the creation of a Reading Leadership Council to develop and maintain a list of approved reading curriculum and universal reading screeners that align with evidence-based reading instruction, requires the Pennsylvania Department of Education to create a free professional development program to train teachers on evidence-based reading, and eliminates the use of three-cuing, which has proven to be unsuccessful.

“The materials posted on the department’s website do not reflect the intent, rigor or review standards that were envisioned when the law was enacted,” Ortitay said. “In addition, they do not reflect your statements both in public and private about the importance of structured literacy in our schools. The law requires the development of a curated, evidence-based list of resources aligned with the science of reading and Pennsylvania’s academic standards – not a patchwork of recycled material from other jurisdictions.”

He requested the department immediately:

• Withdraw the current lists until a full review can be conducted.
• Establish a Pennsylvania-based evaluation panel of teachers, reading specialists and curriculum experts to vet all submitted materials.
• Correct all factual inaccuracies, including those concerning Benchmark Education Co. and other vendors.
• Ensure transparency by publishing the evaluation criteria and review process used to determine each program’s inclusion or exclusion.

PDE’s Act 135 of 2024 website is available here.

Ortitay’s letter to Rowe is available here. 

The 46th Legislative District includes South Fayette Township and McDonald and Oakdale boroughs in Allegheny County. It also encompasses Cecil, Chartiers, Mt. Pleasant and North Strabane (Districts 6,7,8 and 9) townships and Canonsburg, Houston and McDonald boroughs in Washington County.