Louisiana SB 222: SCHOOLS: Provides relative to early literacy. (8/1/21) (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX See Note)

Bill Text

2021 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 222
BY SENATORS HEWITT, ALLAIN, BARROW, BERNARD, CATHEY, CLOUD,
CORTEZ, FIELDS, FOIL, JACKSON, LUNEAU, MCMATH,
MILLIGAN, FRED MILLS, ROBERT MILLS, MIZELL, MORRIS,
PEACOCK, POPE, REESE, SMITH, TALBOT, WHITE AND
WOMACK
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:24.9, to enact R.S. 17:24.10 and 3996(B)(59) and (60), and
3 to repeal R.S. 17:24.11 and 182, relative to early literacy; to provide for a
4 comprehensive early literacy initiative; to require early literacy instruction for grades
5 kindergarten to three; to provide for annual literacy assessment of certain students;
6 to provide literacy support for certain students; to provide for professional
7 development and teacher training; to require school literacy plans; to require annual
8 literacy reporting; and to provide for related matters.
9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 17:24.9 is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 17:24.10 and
11 3996(B)(59) and (60) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
12 §24.9. Quality early reading literacy initiative; legislative findings; development;
13 criteria; implementation; evaluation limitations
14 A. The legislature recognizes that reading is the most important academic
15 skill and the foundation for all academic learning. The legislature further recognizes
16 that if our children cannot read then they are on the road to failure. It is for these
17 reasons that the legislature finds that teaching children to read on or above grade
18 level must be the highest priority of the state state's educational system. It is
19 therefore the purpose of this initiative to provide for and enhance quality reading
20 programs for the young students in our state.
21 B. The state Department of Education shall develop a comprehensive and
22 balanced evidence-based early childhood reading literacy initiative for students in
23 kindergarten through third grade. The department shall provide criteria that are
ACT No. 438
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.

SB NO. 222 ENROLLED
1 research-based and which provide, at a minimum, for the following:
2 (1) A Develop a program for early literacy that is applicable for all students
3 in kindergarten through third grade including special education students.
4 (2) A method for selecting schools having students who are economically
5 disadvantaged as defined by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
6 and low-performing students in kindergarten through third grade.
7 (3) A plan for the coordination of this initiative with existing programs and
8 funding sources within the schools and school systems.
9 (4) A valid evaluation process.
10 (5) A program that provides phonics as a component.
11 D. This initiative shall be evaluated through the state-level assessment system
12 that identifies those schools and school systems which are meeting state standards
13 of school accountability.
14 E. This program shall be implemented when funds are allocated for this
15 purpose. Such funding shall be allocated to every city and parish school system.
16 Develop a literacy assessment to assess the literacy level of each public
17 school student in kindergarten through third grade.
18 (a) In developing the literacy assessment, the department shall consider:
19 (i) The scientific validity and reliability of the literacy assessment.
20 (ii) The time required to conduct the literacy assessment, with the
21 intention to minimize the impact on instructional time.
22 (iii) The cost of administering the literacy assessment.
23 (iv) The timeliness and ease in reporting the results to teachers,
24 administrators, and parents.
25 (v) The integration of the literacy assessment with instruction.
26 (b) The literacy assessment shall:
27 (i) Measure, at a minimum, age-appropriate phonological awareness,
28 phonics, decoding, fluency, and comprehension.
29 (ii) Identify students whose literacy skills are below grade level.
30 (iii) Be a tool to assist in identifying students for further evaluation for
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.

SB NO. 222 ENROLLED
1 specific programming, including students who display characteristics of being
2 dyslexic or gifted.
3 (3) Provide the literacy assessment, at no cost, to each public school for
4 use in identifying a student's foundational literacy skill level pursuant to R.S.
5 17:24.10.
6 (4) Establish the scores on the literacy assessment to determine whether
7 a student's literacy skills are above grade level, on grade level, or below grade
8 level.
9 (5) Require, beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, each public school
10 to administer the literacy assessment to each student in kindergarten through
11