Bill > HB857

This bill aims to expand Mississippi's literacy program from kindergarten through 3rd grade to include students in 4th through 8th grades by establishing comprehensive reading support and intervention strategies. The bill defines key terms like "science of reading" (evidence-based understanding of reading development), "structured literacy" (explicit, systematic language instruction), and "dyslexia" (a specific learning disability affecting word recognition). It requires the State Department of Education to develop a support system for educators, including professional learning focused on evidence-based reading instruction, job-embedded coaching, and training in strategies for supporting students with reading difficulties. The bill mandates the implementation of an evidence-based literacy intervention program that includes universal screeners administered three times per year, identification of students needing reading support, and a credit-bearing literacy course for 6th through 8th-grade students. Schools must identify and notify parents of students with significant reading deficiencies within 15 days, detailing proposed interventions. Additionally, the State Department of Education must submit an annual report to the Legislature documenting the program's implementation, including student identification numbers, intervention details, and evidence of improved literacy outcomes. The bill prohibits using three-cueing system methods of teaching word reading and is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.