Maryland HB 1657: Teachers and Teacher Preparation Programs - Maryland Reading Standards Matrix - Established

Bill Text

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW. 
        [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law. 
           *hb1657*   
  
HOUSE BILL 1657 
F2   8lr3485 
      
By: Delegate A. Washington 
Introduced and read first time: February 9, 2018 
Assigned to: Ways and Means 
 
A BILL ENTITLED 
 
AN ACT concerning 1 
 
Teachers and Teacher Preparation Programs – Maryland Reading Standards 2 
Matrix – Established 3 
 
FOR the purpose of requiring the State Department of Education, the University System 4 
of  Maryland,  and  the  Maryland  Higher  Education Commission to develop  a 5 
Maryland  Reading Standards Matrix  on  or  before  a  certain  date; requiring  the 6 
Maryland  Reading Standards Matrix  to  reflect  certain  standards and  research; 7 
requiring  the  Department, the System,  and the Commission  to  develop  a  certain 8 
syllabus  and  timeline  for  certain  faculty  and to establish  a  certain  accreditation 9 
process   for   certain   programs; requiring   a   certain   course   to   include   certain 10 
components; requiring certain  programs  to  use  the  Maryland  Reading Standards 11 
Matrix to develop certain courses and syllabi and deliver certain instruction; defining 12 
certain terms; and generally relating to the Maryland Reading Standards Matrix. 13 
 
 SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14 
That: 15 
 
 (a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 16 
 
  (2) “Accrediting body” means a body that specializes in the knowledge and 17 
practice that teachers of reading need to know and be able to do to teach all students to 18 
read proficiently, including students with reading difficulties and dyslexia.  19 
 
  (3) “Pre–service educator  preparation”  is the  education  and  training 20 
provided to student teachers before they have undertaken any teaching.  21 
 
 (b) (1) On  or  before  March  1,  2019,  the State Department of  Education,  the 22 
University System of Maryland, and the Maryland Higher Education Commission shall, in 23 
consultation   with   literacy   educators,   dyslexia   advocacy   organizations, district–level 24 
teacher  training  specialists  and  supervisors,  the  International Dyslexia  Association,  and 25 
Decoding Dyslexia Maryland, develop a Maryland Reading Standards Matrix. 26 

2 HOUSE BILL 1657  
 
 
 
  (2) The Maryland Reading Standards Matrix shall reflect the most recent 1 
version of: 2 
 
   (i) the   International   Literacy   Association   Standards for   the 3 
Preparation of Literacy; 4 
 
   (ii) the International Dyslexia Association Knowledge and Practice 5 
Standards for Teachers of Reading; 6 
 
   (iii) current research on the science of reading; 7 
 
   (iv) standards from the Maryland Reading Course Workgroup; and 8 
 
   (v) Maryland College and Career–Ready Standards. 9 
 
 (c) (1) On or  before March  1,  2020,  the State Department of  Education,  the 10 
University System of Maryland, and the Maryland Higher Education Commission shall: 11 
 
   (i) develop   a   syllabus   and   timeline   to   provide   professional 12 
development courses for faculty who: 13 
 
    1. teach one  or  more  of  the  required reading courses to  14 
pre–service educators and faculty who supervise pre–service educator internships; and 15 
 
    2. supervise   pre–service educator internships   to   ensure 16 
faculty have the knowledge and practice to coach and mentor pre–service educators whose 17 
internship includes students at risk for reading difficulties, including dyslexia; and 18 
 
   (ii) establish an accreditation process  for  all undergraduate and 19 
graduate educator reading preparation programs in conjunction with an accrediting body. 20 
 
  (2) The course shall include all the components of the Maryland Reading 21 
Standards Matrix.  22 
 
 (d) On  or  before  July  1,  2020,  all  Maryland  undergraduate  and  graduate  23 
pre–service  educator  preparation  programs  shall  use  the  Maryland  Reading  Standards 24 
Matrix  to  develop  reading  courses  and syllabi,  and to deliver  reading  instruction  to  25 
pre–service educator candidates. 26 
 
 SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 27 
1, 2018. 28