‘Science of Reading’ Bill’s Death Is No Mystery. The Union Did It

The measure would have mandated a phonics approach, which the teachers union said would not meet the needs of English learners.

Children's books in the Mary Wilson Branch of Orange County Public Library in Seal Beach, Calif., on Sept. 9, 2023. Sophie Li/The Epoch Times

A California Assembly bill that would have required a “science of reading” approach to teaching young children to read has died after a strong “no” from the teachers union.

Assembly Bill 2222, introduced in February by Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio, would have mandated all schools use the “science of reading” approach, which focuses on phonics, or sounding out letters, groups of letters and syllables to form words.