Bill > S0442

This bill aims to improve reading instruction in Florida by implementing several key changes. It requires the Just Read, Florida! Office to work with the Florida Center for Reading Research to identify middle and secondary school personnel, including principals and reading coaches, for specialized training in reading instruction. The bill mandates intensive reading instruction for students with reading deficiencies, focusing on evidence-based strategies that include systematic approaches to developing phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Schools must now develop reading instruction plans that incorporate detailed, targeted interventions, including the strategic use of reading coaches and placement of well-trained teachers. The Florida Center for Reading Research will be tasked with developing job-embedded training content for school leadership, with a particular emphasis on strategies for engaging adolescent learners and supporting struggling readers. Additionally, school district professional learning systems must now include specific training for educators in delivering reading instruction, with a strong focus on evidence-based methods grounded in the science of reading. The bill prioritizes explicit, systematic reading instruction techniques and explicitly discourages the use of certain less effective reading instructional methods, such as the three-cueing system. These changes will take effect on July 1, 2025, and aim to significantly improve reading outcomes across Florida's educational system.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/442