Connecticut 2020 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB05380 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 02/26/2020

                                
 
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General Assembly  Raised Bill No. 5380  
February Session, 2020  
LCO No. 1510 
 
 
Referred to Committee on EDUCATION  
 
 
Introduced by:  
(ED)  
 
 
 
 
AN ACT CONCERNING SC HOOL LITERACY. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General 
Assembly convened: 
 
Section 1. Section 10-14t of the general statutes is repealed and the 1 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2020): 2 
(a) On or before [January 1, 2016] July 1, 2020, the Department of 3 
Education shall develop or approve reading assessments for use by local 4 
and regional boards of education for towns designated as an alliance 5 
district, as defined in section 10-262u, as amended by this act, for the 6 
school year commencing July 1, [2016] 2020, and each school year 7 
thereafter, to identify students in kindergarten to grade [three] five, 8 
inclusive, who are below proficiency in reading, provided any reading 9 
assessments developed or approved by the department include 10 
frequent screening and progress monitoring of students. Such reading 11 
assessments shall (1) measure phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, 12 
vocabulary, and comprehension, (2) provide opportunities for periodic 13 
formative assessment during the school year, (3) produce data that is 14 
useful for informing individual and classroom instruction, including the 15 
grouping of students based on such data and the selection of 16  Raised Bill No.  5380 
 
 
 
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instructional activities based on data of individual student response 17 
patterns during such progress monitoring, (4) be compatible with best 18 
practices in reading instruction and research, and (5) assist in 19 
identifying, in whole or in part, students at risk for dyslexia, as defined 20 
in section 10-3d, or other reading-related learning disabilities. 21 
(b) Not later than [February 1, 2016] July 1, 2020, the Commissioner 22 
of Education shall submit the reading assessments developed or 23 
approved under this section to the joint standing committee of the 24 
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, 25 
in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a.  26 
Sec. 2. Section 10-14u of the general statutes is repealed and the 27 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2020): 28 
(a) As used in this section: 29 
(1) "Achievement gap" means the existence of a significant disparity 30 
in the academic performance of students among and between (A) racial 31 
groups, (B) ethnic groups, (C) socioeconomic groups, (D) genders, and 32 
(E) English language learners and students whose primary language is 33 
English. 34 
(2) "Scientifically-based reading research and instruction" means (A) 35 
a comprehensive program or a collection of instructional practices that 36 
is based on reliable, valid evidence showing that when such programs 37 
or practices are used, students can be expected to achieve satisfactory 38 
reading progress, and (B) the integration of instructional strategies for 39 
continuously assessing, evaluating and communicating the student's 40 
reading progress and needs in order to design and implement ongoing 41 
interventions so that students of all ages and proficiency levels can read 42 
and comprehend text and apply higher level thinking skills. Such 43 
comprehensive program or collection of practices [shall include] 44 
includes, but is not [be] limited to, instruction in five areas of reading: 45 
Phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and text 46 
comprehension. 47  Raised Bill No.  5380 
 
 
 
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(b) For the school year commencing July 1, [2014] 2020, and each 48 
school year thereafter, the Commissioner of Education, in consultation 49 
with the coordinator of the Center for Literacy Research and Reading 50 
Success, established pursuant to section 5 of this act, shall create an 51 
intensive reading instruction program to improve student literacy in 52 
grades kindergarten to grade [three] five, inclusive, and close the 53 
achievement gap. Such intensive reading instruction program shall 54 
include routine reading assessments for students in kindergarten to 55 
grade [three] five, inclusive, scientifically-based reading research and 56 
instruction, an intensive reading intervention strategy, as described in 57 
subsection (c) of this section, supplemental reading instruction and 58 
reading remediation plans, as described in subsection (d) of this section, 59 
and an intensive summer school reading program, as described in 60 
subsection (e) of this section. [For the school year commencing July 1, 61 
2014, the commissioner shall select five elementary schools that are (1) 62 
located in an educational reform district, as defined in section 10-262u, 63 
(2) participating in the commissioner's network of schools, pursuant to 64 
section 10-223h, or (3) among the lowest five per cent of elementary 65 
schools in school subject performance indices for reading and 66 
mathematics, as defined in section 10-223e, to participate in the 67 
intensive reading instruction program and for the school year 68 
commencing July 1, 2015, and each school year thereafter, the 69 
commissioner may select up to five additional such elementary schools 70 
to participate in the intensive reading instruction program.] For the 71 
school year commencing July 1, 2020, the commissioner, in consultation 72 
with the Center for Literary Research and Reading Success, shall 73 
provide, upon request, such intensive reading instruction program to a 74 
local or regional board of education for a town designated as an alliance 75 
district, as defined in section 10-262u, as amended by this act, or may 76 
include such intensive reading instruction program in the tiered 77 
supports in early literacy provided under the reading readiness 78 
program pursuant to section 10-14y, as amended by this act. 79 
(c) On or before July 1, [2014] 2020, the Department of Education, in 80 
consultation with the coordinator of the Center for Literacy Research 81  Raised Bill No.  5380 
 
 
 
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and Reading Success, shall develop an intensive reading intervention 82 
strategy for use by [schools selected by the Commissioner of Education 83 
to participate in the intensive reading instruction program to address 84 
the achievement gap at such schools and to] any elementary school 85 
located in an alliance district that enrolls students who are not reading 86 
at or above grade level to ensure that [all] such students are reading 87 
proficiently by grade [three] five in such schools. Such intensive reading 88 
intervention strategy [for schools] shall (1) include, but not be limited 89 
to, (A) rigorous assessments in reading skills, (B) scientifically-based 90 
reading research and instruction, (C) [one] external literacy [coach for] 91 
coaches made available to each school [, to be funded by the 92 
department,] who will work with the reading data collected, support the 93 
principal of the school as needed, observe, and coach classes and 94 
supervise the reading interventions, (D) [four] reading interventionists 95 
[for each school, to be funded by the department,] who will develop a 96 
reading remediation plan for any student who is reading below 97 
proficiency, be responsible for all supplemental reading instruction, and 98 
conduct reading assessments as needed, and (E) training for teachers 99 
and administrators in scientifically-based reading research and 100 
instruction, including [,] training for school administrators on how to 101 
assess a classroom to ensure that all children are proficient in reading 102 
by grade [three] five, and (2) outline, at a minimum, how (A) reading 103 
data will be collected, analyzed and used for purposes of instructional 104 
development, (B) professional and leadership development will be 105 
related to reading data analysis and used to support individual teacher 106 
and classroom needs, (C) [the selected] schools will communicate with 107 
parents and guardians of students on reading instruction strategies and 108 
student reading performance goals, and on opportunities for parents 109 
and guardians to partner with teachers and school administrators to 110 
improve reading at home and at school, (D) teachers and school leaders 111 
will be trained in the science of teaching reading, (E) periodic student 112 
progress reports will be issued, and (F) such [selected school] intensive 113 
reading intervention strategy will be monitored at the classroom level. 114 
The commissioner shall review and evaluate the [school] intensive 115 
reading intervention strategy for model components that may be used 116  Raised Bill No.  5380 
 
 
 
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and replicated in other [schools and school] alliance districts to ensure 117 
that all children are proficient in reading by grade [three] five. 118 
(d) (1) For the school year commencing July 1, [2014] 2020, and each 119 
school year thereafter, each [school selected by the Commissioner of 120 
Education to participate in the intensive reading instruction program 121 
under this section shall] local and regional board of education for a town 122 
designated as an alliance district shall, in consultation with the 123 
coordinator of the Center for Literacy Research and Reading Success, 124 
provide supplemental reading instruction to students in kindergarten 125 
to grade [three] five, inclusive, who are reading below proficiency, as 126 
identified by the reading assessment described in section 10-14t, as 127 
amended by this act. Such supplemental reading instruction shall be 128 
provided by a reading interventionist during regular school hours. 129 
(2) A reading remediation plan shall be developed by a reading 130 
interventionist for each student in an alliance district in kindergarten to 131 
grade [three] five, inclusive, who has been identified as reading below 132 
proficiency to address and correct the reading deficiency of such 133 
student. Such remediation plan shall include instructional strategies 134 
that utilize research based reading instruction materials and teachers 135 
trained in reading instruction, parental involvement in the 136 
implementation of the remediation plan and regular progress reports on 137 
such student. 138 
(3) The principal of [a school selected by the Commissioner of 139 
Education to participate in the intensive reading instruction program 140 
under this section] each school in an alliance district shall notify the 141 
parent or guardian of any student in kindergarten to grade [three] five, 142 
inclusive, who has been identified as being below proficiency in 143 
reading. Such notice shall be in writing and (A) include an explanation 144 
of why such student is below proficiency in reading, and (B) inform such 145 
parent or guardian that a remediation plan, as described in subdivision 146 
(2) of this subsection, will be developed for such student to provide 147 
supplemental reading instruction, including strategies for the parent or 148 
guardian to use at home with such student. 149  Raised Bill No.  5380 
 
 
 
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(e) (1) [Any student enrolled in a school selected by the 150 
Commissioner of Education that is located in a priority school district, 151 
pursuant to section 10-266p, to participate in the intensive reading 152 
instruction program under this section and who is reading below 153 
proficiency at the end of the school year shall be enrolled in] Each local 154 
and regional board of education for a town designated as an alliance 155 
district shall, in consultation with the coordinator of the Center for 156 
Literacy Research and Reading Success, provide any student in 157 
kindergarten to grade five, inclusive, who is reading below proficiency 158 
at the end of the school year with an intensive summer school reading 159 
instruction program. Such intensive summer school reading instruction 160 
program shall include, (A) a comprehensive reading intervention 161 
program, (B) scientifically-based reading research and instruction 162 
strategies and interventions, (C) diagnostic assessments administered to 163 
a student prior to or during an intensive summer school reading 164 
instruction program to determine such student's particularized need for 165 
instruction, (D) teachers who are trained in the teaching of reading and 166 
reading assessment and intervention, and (E) weekly progress 167 
monitoring to assess the reading progress of such student and tailor 168 
instruction for such student. 169 
(2) [The principal of a school selected by the Commissioner of 170 
Education to participate in] Each local and regional board of education 171 
for a town designated as an alliance district providing supplemental 172 
reading instruction as part of the intensive reading instruction program 173 
under this section shall submit reports to the Department of Education, 174 
at such time and in such manner as prescribed by the department, on 175 
(A) student reading progress for each student reading below proficiency 176 
based on the data collected from the screening and progress monitoring 177 
of such student using the reading assessments described in section 10-178 
14t, as amended by this act, and (B) the specific reading interventions 179 
and supports implemented. 180 
(f) Not later than October 1, [2015] 2020, and annually thereafter, the 181 
department shall report to the joint standing committee of the General 182 
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, in 183  Raised Bill No.  5380 
 
 
 
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accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, on student reading 184 
levels [in schools participating] in the intensive reading instruction 185 
program. Such report shall include recommendations on model 186 
components of the school intensive reading intervention strategy that 187 
may be used and replicated in other [schools and school] alliance 188 
districts.  189 
Sec. 3. Section 10-14v of the general statutes is repealed and the 190 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2020): 191 
On or before January 1, [2014] 2020, the Department of Education 192 
shall, in collaboration with the Center for Literacy Research and 193 
Reading Success, established pursuant to section 5 of this act, develop a 194 
coordinated state-wide reading plan for students in kindergarten to 195 
grade [three] five, inclusive, that contains strategies and frameworks 196 
that are research-driven to produce effective reading instruction and 197 
improvement in student performance. Such plan shall include: (1) The 198 
alignment of reading standards, instruction and assessments for 199 
students in kindergarten to grade [three] five, inclusive; (2) teachers' use 200 
of data on the progress of all students to adjust and differentiate 201 
instructional practices to improve student reading success; (3) the 202 
collection of information concerning each student's reading 203 
background, level and progress so that teachers can use such 204 
information to assist in the transition of a student's promotion to the 205 
next grade level; (4) an intervention for each student who is not making 206 
adequate progress in reading to help such student read at the 207 
appropriate grade level; (5) enhanced reading instruction for students 208 
who are reading at or above their grade level; (6) the coordination of 209 
reading instruction activities between parents, students, teachers and 210 
administrators of the school district at home and in school; (7) school 211 
district reading plans; (8) parental involvement by providing parents 212 
and guardians of students with opportunities for partnering with 213 
teachers and school administrators to (A) create an optimal learning 214 
environment, and (B) receive updates on the reading progress of their 215 
student; (9) teacher training and reading performance tests aligned with 216 
teacher preparation courses and professional development activities; 217  Raised Bill No.  5380 
 
 
 
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(10) incentives for schools that have demonstrated significant 218 
improvement in student reading; (11) research-based literacy training 219 
for early childhood care and education providers and instructors 220 
working with children birth to five years of age, inclusive, and transition 221 
plans relating to oral language and preliteracy proficiency for children 222 
between prekindergarten and kindergarten; (12) the alignment of 223 
reading instruction with the common core state standards adopted by 224 
the State Board of Education; and (13) the alignment of reading 225 
instruction with the two-generational initiative established pursuant to 226 
section 17b-112l.  227 
Sec. 4. Section 10-14y of the general statutes is repealed and the 228 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2020): 229 
(a) The Department of Education shall, within available 230 
appropriations and in collaboration with the Center for Literacy 231 
Research and Reading Success, established pursuant to section 5 of this 232 
act, establish a reading readiness program that provides tiered supports 233 
in early literacy to each school district designated as an alliance district, 234 
pursuant to section 10-262u, as amended by this act, and each school 235 
participating in the commissioner's network of schools, pursuant to 236 
section 10-223h. The department shall conduct an assessment of the 237 
reading readiness of students enrolled in kindergarten to grade [three] 238 
five, inclusive, for each such school and school district. Such reading 239 
readiness assessment shall consider any combination of the following: 240 
(1) Whether such school or school district has developed and is 241 
implementing a multiyear plan and allocated resources specifically for 242 
early literacy in kindergarten to grade [three] five, inclusive, (2) whether 243 
teachers and administrators have received training regarding the 244 
science of teaching reading, and the extent to which teachers and 245 
administrators have completed the program of professional 246 
development in scientifically-based reading research and instruction, 247 
pursuant to section 10-148b, (3) the level of access to external coaches in 248 
literacy, and (4) whether there is reading intervention staff embedded at 249 
such school or in the school district. 250  Raised Bill No.  5380 
 
 
 
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(b) The department shall identify the early literacy needs of each 251 
school and school district described in subsection (a) of this section 252 
based on the results of the reading readiness assessment conducted 253 
pursuant to [said] subsection (a) of this section, and provide, in 254 
collaboration with the Center for Literacy Research and Reading 255 
Success, tiered supports in early literacy as follows: 256 
(1) Tier one universal supports shall [be provided to each such school 257 
district that is an educational reform district, as defined in section 10-258 
262u, and] include online professional development modules aligned 259 
with the reading instruction survey, as described in section 10-145r, and 260 
other literacy modules and programs available in the state; 261 
(2) Tier two targeted supports shall include (A) a two-year program 262 
of literacy leadership training for certain teachers and administrators, 263 
(B) targeted professional development, in accordance with the 264 
provisions of section 10-148b, using the results of the reading instruction 265 
survey, as described in section 10-145r, and (C) external coaching 266 
support using funding received pursuant to section 10-223h or 10-262u, 267 
as amended by this act; and 268 
(3) Tier three intensive supports shall include multiyear support from 269 
the department and a commitment from such school or school district, 270 
that includes, but need not be limited to, (A) the use of funding received 271 
pursuant to section 10-262u, as amended by this act, to support an early 272 
literacy program for students enrolled in kindergarten to grade [three] 273 
five, inclusive, (B) technical support in the drafting and submission of 274 
alliance district reading plans, as described in section 10-262u, as 275 
amended by this act, (C) identifying and embedding dedicated literacy 276 
coaches and reading interventionists, (D) targeted and intensive 277 
professional development, and (E) funds for assessment and 278 
instructional materials. 279 
(c) Any tiered supports in early literacy provided under this section 280 
shall be aligned with any turnaround plan, developed pursuant to 281 
section 10-223h, or alliance district plan, developed pursuant to section 282  Raised Bill No.  5380 
 
 
 
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10-262u, as amended by this act, as applicable.  283 
Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2020) (a) The Department of Education 284 
shall establish a Center for Literacy Research and Reading Success. The 285 
center shall be responsible for (1) collaborating with the department in 286 
the implementation of the coordinated state-wide reading plan for 287 
students in kindergarten to grade five, inclusive, established pursuant 288 
to section 10-14v of the general statutes, as amended by this act; (2) 289 
researching and developing, in collaboration with the department and 290 
Office of Early Childhood, a birth to grade twelve reading success 291 
strategy to be included in the alignment of reading instruction with the 292 
two-generational initiative, established pursuant to section 17b-112l of 293 
the general statutes; (3) providing direct support to schools and boards 294 
of education to improve reading outcomes for students in kindergarten 295 
to grade five, inclusive, through coaching, leadership training, 296 
professional development, parental engagement and technical 297 
assistance that is consistent with the intensive reading instruction 298 
program, as described in section 10-14u of the general statutes, as 299 
amended by this act, and aligned with evidence-based practices; (4) 300 
developing and maintaining an Internet web site for the purpose of (A) 301 
disseminating tools and information associated with the intensive 302 
reading instruction program and other reading initiatives, and (B) 303 
supporting the community of teachers, schools and boards of education 304 
engaged in improving student reading; and (5) serving as a 305 
collaborative center for institutions of higher education and making 306 
available to the faculty of teacher preparation programs (A) the science 307 
of teaching reading, (B) the intensive reading instruction program, and 308 
(C) samples of available curriculum. 309 
(b) The center shall be under the direction of a coordinator who shall, 310 
in consultation with the Reading Leadership Advisory Council 311 
described in subsection (c) of this section, be responsible for (1) 312 
overseeing all activities of the center, (2) facilitating communication 313 
between the center and boards of education, the Department of 314 
Education and other affiliates of the center, and (3) coordinating the 315 
dissemination of information, tools and services made available by the 316  Raised Bill No.  5380 
 
 
 
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center. 317 
(c) The activities of the center shall be implemented by the Reading 318 
Leadership Advisory Council which shall consist of the following 319 
members: (1) The coordinator of the center, or the coordinator's 320 
designee; (2) the director of reading initiatives for the Department of 321 
Education, as described in section 10-3c of the general statutes, as 322 
amended by this act; (3) the executive director of the Commission on 323 
Women, Children and Seniors, or the executive director's designee; (4) 324 
literacy experts, designated by the coordinator, who are engaged in the 325 
development and implementation of the intensive reading instruction 326 
program; (5) an individual designated by the chairperson of the Black 327 
and Puerto Rican Caucus of the General Assembly, provided such 328 
individual is not a member of the General Assembly; and (6) the dean 329 
of the Neag School of Education at The University of Connecticut, or the 330 
dean's designee. The Reading Leadership Advisory Council shall 331 
develop and publish the annual goals for the center and meet at least 332 
once every two months. The Reading Leadership Advisory Council may 333 
establish an advisory board that consists of representatives from public, 334 
private and philanthropic organizations, and is responsible for 335 
providing advice, guidance and resources for the center's goal and 336 
mission. 337 
(d) The center shall hire reading coaches who have experience and 338 
expertise in the intensive reading instruction program. Such reading 339 
coaches shall (1) provide training and professional development on the 340 
intensive reading instruction program, literacy leadership and effective 341 
instruction to teachers, (2) work directly with teachers to support the 342 
implementation of the intensive reading instruction program and attend 343 
school and school district leadership, data and planning meetings, (3) 344 
provide coaching to teachers, and (4) lead and participate in family 345 
engagement activities. 346 
(e) For purposes of establishing and administering the center under 347 
this section, the Department of Education may enter into a 348 
memorandum of understanding with a public institution of higher 349  Raised Bill No.  5380 
 
 
 
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education that has expertise in scientifically-based reading research and 350 
instruction, as defined in section 10-14u of the general statutes, as 351 
amended by this act, and prior experience in the delivery of 352 
comprehensive school-wide, evidence-based reading instruction and 353 
intervention in grades kindergarten to five, inclusive. 354 
Sec. 6. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a working group 355 
to study issues relating to the teaching of scientifically-based reading 356 
research and instruction, as defined in section 10-14u of the general 357 
statutes, as amended by this act, as part of teacher preparation 358 
programs, as defined in section 10-10a of the general statutes, offered by 359 
public and independent institutions of higher education in the state. 360 
Such study shall include, but need not be limited to, an examination of 361 
(1) whether, or to what extent, (A) such teacher preparation programs 362 
are providing, pursuant to subsection (e) of section 10-145a of the 363 
general statutes, instruction on the knowledge and pedagogy of the 364 
science of reading and the skills that are tested as part of the reading 365 
instruction examination approved by the State Board of Education on 366 
April 1, 2009, and (B) professors in such teacher preparation programs 367 
have received training on or are competent to provide such instruction, 368 
and (2) the number of credit hours of such instruction being provided in 369 
such teacher preparation programs. 370 
(b) The working group shall consist of the following members: 371 
(1) The director of reading initiatives for the Department of 372 
Education, as described in section 10-3c of the general statutes, as 373 
amended by this act; 374 
(2) The executive director of the Commission on Women, Children 375 
and Seniors, or the executive director's designee; 376 
(3) Three members who are representatives from the Neag School of 377 
Education at The University of Connecticut, appointed by the president 378 
of The University of Connecticut; 379 
(4) Four members who are representatives from each of the teacher 380  Raised Bill No.  5380 
 
 
 
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preparation programs offered at Western Connecticut State University, 381 
Southern Connecticut State University, Eastern Connecticut State 382 
University and Central Connecticut State University, appointed by the 383 
president of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities; 384 
(5) Three members who are representatives from teacher preparation 385 
programs offered by independent institutions of higher education in the 386 
state, appointed by the president of the Connecticut Conference of 387 
Independent Colleges; and 388 
(6) Two members who have expertise in scientifically-based reading 389 
research and instruction, appointed by the executive director of the 390 
Commission on Women, Children and Seniors. 391 
(c) All appointments to the working group shall be made not later 392 
than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall 393 
be filled by the appointing authority. 394 
(d) The director of reading initiatives for the Department of 395 
Education shall schedule the first meeting of the working group, which 396 
shall be held not later than sixty days after the effective date of this 397 
section. The members of the working group shall elect the chairperson 398 
of the working group from among the members of the working group 399 
at the first meeting. 400 
(e) Not later than January 1, 2022, the working group shall submit a 401 
report on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing 402 
committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 403 
relating to education and higher education, in accordance with the 404 
provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. Such report shall 405 
include a recommendation as to the appropriate number of credit hours 406 
for the instruction on the knowledge and pedagogy of the science of 407 
reading and the skills that are tested as part of the reading instruction 408 
examination approved by the State Board of Education on April 1, 2009. 409 
The working group shall terminate on the date that it submits such 410 
report or January 1, 2021, whichever is later. 411  Raised Bill No.  5380 
 
 
 
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Sec. 7. Section 10-3c of the general statutes is repealed and the 412 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2020): 413 
There shall be a director of reading initiatives within the Department 414 
of Education. The director shall be responsible for (1) administering the 415 
intensive reading instruction program to improve student literacy in 416 
kindergarten to grade [three] five, inclusive, and close the achievement 417 
gap, pursuant to section 10-14u, as amended by this act, (2) assisting in 418 
the development and administration of the program of professional 419 
development for teachers and principals in scientifically-based reading 420 
research and instruction, pursuant to section 10-148b, (3) administering 421 
the coordinated state-wide reading plan for students in kindergarten to 422 
grade [three] five, inclusive, pursuant to section 10-14v, as amended by 423 
this act, (4) administering the incentive program described in section 10-424 
14w, (5) providing assistance to local and regional boards of education 425 
in the administration of the reading assessments described in section 10-426 
14t, as amended by this act, and the implementation of school district 427 
reading plans, (6) providing information and assistance to parents and 428 
guardians of students relating to reading and literacy instruction, (7) 429 
addressing reading and literacy issues related to students who are 430 
English language learners, and (8) developing and administering any 431 
other state-wide reading and literacy initiatives for students in 432 
kindergarten to grade twelve, inclusive.  433 
Sec. 8. Subsection (d) of section 10-262u of the general statutes is 434 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 435 
2020): 436 
(d) The local or regional board of education for a town designated as 437 
an alliance district may apply to the Commissioner of Education, at such 438 
time and in such manner as the commissioner prescribes, to receive any 439 
increase in funds received over the amount the town received for the 440 
prior fiscal year pursuant to subsection (a) of section 10-262i. 441 
Applications pursuant to this subsection shall include objectives and 442 
performance targets and a plan that are developed, in part, on the 443 
strategic use of student academic performance data. Such plan may 444  Raised Bill No.  5380 
 
 
 
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include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) A tiered system of 445 
interventions for the schools under the jurisdiction of such board based 446 
on the needs of such schools, (2) ways to strengthen the foundational 447 
programs in reading, through the intensive reading instruction program 448 
pursuant to section 10-14u, as amended by this act, to ensure reading 449 
mastery in kindergarten to grade [three] five, inclusive, with a focus on 450 
standards and instruction, proper use of data, intervention strategies, 451 
current information for teachers, parental engagement, and teacher 452 
professional development, (3) additional learning time, including 453 
extended school day or school year programming administered by 454 
school personnel or external partners, (4) a talent strategy that includes, 455 
but is not limited to, teacher and school leader recruitment and 456 
assignment, career ladder policies that draw upon guidelines for a 457 
model teacher evaluation program adopted by the State Board of 458 
Education, pursuant to section 10-151b, and adopted by each local or 459 
regional board of education. Such talent strategy may include 460 
provisions that demonstrate increased ability to attract, retain, promote 461 
and bolster the performance of staff in accordance with performance 462 
evaluation findings and, in the case of new personnel, other indicators 463 
of effectiveness, (5) training for school leaders and other staff on new 464 
teacher evaluation models, (6) provisions for the cooperation and 465 
coordination with early childhood education providers to ensure 466 
alignment with district expectations for student entry into kindergarten, 467 
including funding for an existing local Head Start program, (7) 468 
provisions for the cooperation and coordination with other 469 
governmental and community programs to ensure that students receive 470 
adequate support and wraparound services, including community 471 
school models, (8) provisions for implementing and furthering state-472 
wide education standards adopted by the State Board of Education and 473 
all activities and initiatives associated with such standards, (9) strategies 474 
for attracting and recruiting minority teachers and administrators, (10) 475 
provisions for the enhancement of bilingual education programs, 476 
pursuant to section 10-17f, or other language acquisition services to 477 
English language learners, including, but not limited to, participation in 478 
the English language learner pilot program, established pursuant to 479  Raised Bill No.  5380 
 
 
 
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section 10-17n, (11) entering into the model school district 480 
responsibilities agreement, described in section 10-223l, (12) leadership 481 
succession plans that provide training and learning opportunities for 482 
administrators and are designed to assist in the seamless transition of 483 
school and district personnel in and out of leadership positions in the 484 
school district and the continuous implementation of plans developed 485 
under this subsection, and (13) any additional categories or goals as 486 
determined by the commissioner. Such plan shall demonstrate 487 
collaboration with key stakeholders, as identified by the commissioner, 488 
with the goal of achieving efficiencies and the alignment of intent and 489 
practice of current programs with conditional programs identified in 490 
this subsection. The commissioner may (A) require changes in any plan 491 
submitted by a local or regional board of education before the 492 
commissioner approves an application under this subsection, and (B) 493 
permit a local or regional board of education, as part of such plan, to use 494 
a portion of any funds received under this section for the purposes of 495 
paying tuition charged to such board pursuant to subdivision (1) of 496 
subsection (k) of section 10-264l or subsection (b) of section 10-264o. 497 
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following 
sections: 
 
Section 1 July 1, 2020 10-14t 
Sec. 2 July 1, 2020 10-14u 
Sec. 3 July 1, 2020 10-14v 
Sec. 4 July 1, 2020 10-14y 
Sec. 5 July 1, 2020 New section 
Sec. 6 from passage New section 
Sec. 7 July 1, 2020 10-3c 
Sec. 8 July 1, 2020 10-262u(d) 
 
Statement of Purpose:   
To expand the intensive reading instruction program to include grades 
four and five, and to establish the Center for Literacy Research and 
Reading Success within the Department of Education. 
  Raised Bill No.  5380 
 
 
 
LCO No. 1510   	17 of 17 
 
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except 
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not 
underlined.]