Bill > S2645

Introduced Session

This bill requires school districts to screen certain students for reading deficiencies. Under the bill, a school district is required to screen each student enrolled in kindergarten through grade three using a reading assessment approved by the Department of Education. The screening is to occur three times per school year. Additionally, a school district is required to screen newly-enrolled students in grades four through 12 using an approved reading assessment. The bill requires a school district to screen any enrolled student at the request of the parent or guardian of the student. Under the bill, the reading assessment is required to: (1) measure phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension; and (2) identify students who have a reading deficiency. The department is required to enter into a contract with at least two screening providers that have a valid and reliable reading assessment with the ability to screen students pursuant to the provisions of this bill. Within the limits of available funds, the department is required to make these reading assessments available for use by school districts. Additionally, the department is required to establish and distribute a list of providers of reliable and valid reading assessments approved for school district use for the screening and monitoring of student progress toward grade level reading. The bill permits a school district to be granted a waiver of the requirement to use one of the department-approved reading assessments if it demonstrates to the department's satisfaction that it has selected a comparable reading assessment. Under the bill, a school district is required to notify a parent or guardian of a student who exhibits a reading deficiency no later than 15 days after the deficiency is identified. The school district is also required to provide appropriate evidence-based intervention strategies to any student that exhibits a reading deficiency. A school district is also required to annually report to the department the number of students screened and the number of students who were identified through the screening as exhibiting a reading deficiency. The bill defines a "reading deficiency" as scoring below grade level or being determined to be at risk of scoring below grade level based on a screening assessment.

Committee Categories

Vin Gopal (D)*,  Teresa Ruiz (D)*,  Troy Singleton (D), 

Combined with S2644/2646 (SCS) (on 06/20/2024)

Official Document