ESHB 1295: 5 Proven Change Management Steps for Implementation Success

While Washington beats the national average, more than one-third of students in grades K–4 read below the state standard. Underserved student populations are the most impacted, particularly students with dyslexia or learning disabilities, multilingual learners, and low-income communities.

The Evergreen State’s experience mirrors that of most U.S. states reconciling literacy declines. The science of reading, a decades-old body of research on how the human brain learns to read, disproves popular assumptions that learning to read happens naturally with enough exposure to text and practice. This enduring belief gave rise to popular teaching methods in the past that ultimately left Washington students missing important literacy-building blocks, undercutting performance.

Washington state leaders responded with a new ESHB 1295 bill, setting a September 2027 deadline for implementing evidence-aligned literacy curricula, mandatory screening, structured interventions for at-risk students, and new teacher endorsement standards. These requirements aim to address Washington’s lagging literacy scores. The new legislation requires district leaders to take action, not just understand the science. Astute leaders know they must navigate the realities of change management to achieve more equitable literacy outcomes.

Leaders have the next year to prepare, dig in, and make a difference. This solution guide draws on proven change management practices to help district administrators meet new requirements and build practical, scalable strategies using Lexia® solutions. A visual checklist breaks down the process into five high-level tasks, making it easier to establish a culture that sustains progress and lead with intent for better program adoption.