Anne Wicks, Managing Director of Opportunity and Democracy at the George W. Bush Institute, testified before the Senate HELP Committee on school choice and literacy. She highlighted alarming NAEP results—only about a third of students are proficient readers—and urged policymakers to ground instruction in the “science of reading.” Drawing on her own parent advocacy, Wicks showed how shifting to evidence-based practices boosted outcomes in her Texas district. Her recommendations stressed stronger teacher preparation, ongoing coaching, high-quality materials, early intervention, and transparent assessments—reflecting the Bush Institute’s commitment to ensuring every child learns to read.