SB 1076 - This act modifies provisions regarding literacy and reading instruction.MISSOURI ADVISORY BOARD FOR EDUCATOR PREPARATION (Section 161.097)
Under this act, the Missouri Advisory Board for Educator Preparation (MABEP) shall include at least three active elementary or secondary classroom teachers and at least three faculty members within approved educator preparation programs. The MABEP shall hold regular meetings that allow members to share needs and concerns and plan strategies to enhance teacher preparation.
Under the act, the State Board of Education shall, in consultation with MABEP, align literacy and reading instruction coursework for teacher education programs. All reading and special education certificates shall include training as outlined in the act.
These provisions are substantially similar to provisions in the truly agreed CCS#2/HCS/SS/SCS/SBs 681 & 661 (2022).
READING INTERVENTION (Section 161.241)
The State Board of Education, in collaboration with the Coordinating Board for Higher Education and the Commissioner's Literacy Advisory Council established by the act, shall develop a plan to establish a comprehensive system of services for reading instruction. The State Board of Education shall also create an Office of Literacy and shall take other actions relating to improving literacy set forth in the act.
The act also creates the Evidence-based Reading Instruction Program Fund, to be used for purposes set forth in the act.
This provision is similar to a provision in the truly agreed CCS#2/HCS/SS/SCS/SBs 681 & 661 (2022).
READING INTERVENTION (Section 167.268, 167.640, 167.645, & 170.014)
The act changes the term "reading intervention plans" to "reading success plans" throughout the act and applies provisions regarding such plans to charter schools. The development of guidelines for formulating policies for such plans is changed from the State Board of Education to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Each school district and charter school shall have on file a policy for reading success plans. The reading success plans shall provide all parents and guardians of students with a plan that includes suggestions for regular parent-guided home reading.
Each school district and charter school shall provide intensive reading instruction to students as set forth in the act.
The act repeals provisions relating to reading assessments and now states that school districts and charter schools shall assess all students enrolled in kindergarten through 3rd grade at the beginning and end of each school year for their level of reading or reading readiness. Additionally, all school districts and charter schools shall assess any newly enrolled student in grades one through five for their level of reading or reading readiness.
At the beginning of the school year, each school district and charter school shall provide a reading success plan to any student who exhibits a substantial deficiency in reading or has been identified as being at risk of dyslexia.
Each school district or charter school shall ensure the parent or guardian of any student in kindergarten through 3rd grade who exhibits a substantial deficiency in reading and shall provide them information listed in the act.
If a student has a substantial reading deficiency at the end of 3rd grade, promotion or retention of the student shall be discussed by the student's parent or guardian and appropriate school staff. School districts and charter school shall provide students identified as having a substantial reading deficiency with certain services as set forth in the act.
Each school district and charter school shall ensure that intensive reading instruction is provided through a reading development initiative to each kindergarten through 5th grade student who is assessed as exhibiting a substantial reading deficiency. Such instruction shall comply with criteria listed in the act.
Additionally, each school district and charter school shall provide professional development services to enhance the skills of elementary teachers in responding to children's unique reading issues and needs to increase the use of evidence-based strategies.
These provisions are similar to provisions in the truly agreed CCS#2/HCS/SS/SCS/SBs 681 & 662 (2022).
LITERACY ADVISORY COUNCIL (Section 186.080)
The Commissioner of Education shall establish a Literacy Advisory Council. The Council shall include members representing stakeholder groups listed in the act. The Council shall provide recommendations to the Commissioner and the State Board of Education regarding any identified improvements to literacy instruction and policy for students as set forth in the act.
This provision is similar to a provision in the truly agreed CCS#2/HCS/SS/SCS/SBs 681 & 662 (2022).
JAMIE ANDREWS