Bill > H7021

This bill revises various aspects of Florida's education system, primarily focusing on improving reading instruction and student support. It strengthens the duties of the Just Read, Florida! Office by emphasizing evidence-based reading strategies, including explicit, systematic, and multisensory approaches, and requires training for teachers and reading coaches on these methods. The bill also introduces a program to recognize high school graduates who achieve a high level of competency in foreign languages, establishing a "Seal of Biliteracy" with Gold and Silver levels. Furthermore, it mandates that district school boards allocate specific instructional resources to students with reading deficiencies and revises requirements for school improvement plans and early warning systems to better identify and support struggling students, particularly in middle grades. Parents will receive more detailed notifications about their child's reading deficiencies and proposed interventions. The bill also updates requirements for teacher preparation programs to include comprehensive reading instruction and intervention strategies, and enhances professional development for educators, especially those teaching reading in elementary grades, by requiring training on identifying and addressing conditions like dyslexia. Finally, it includes provisions for funding and the implementation of these changes.