Bill > LB1050

This bill amends the Nebraska Reading Improvement Act to establish a policy that students identified with a persistent reading deficiency at the end of third grade will not be promoted to fourth grade and will instead be retained in third grade, beginning with the 2027-28 school year. A "persistent reading deficiency" is defined as a reading deficiency that remains at the end of third grade, unless the student meets specific higher performance thresholds on state assessments or through a portfolio. The bill outlines exceptions to this retention policy, such as for students exempt from reading assessments or those receiving special education services who have participated in intervention programs and been retained previously. It also mandates that school districts provide an intensive acceleration class for retained third graders, focusing on individualized instruction and evidence-based reading interventions. The bill also clarifies that the State Department of Education "shall" provide technical assistance to school boards, rather than "may," to help them implement the act.