| 5 | 17 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 6 | 18 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 7 | 19 | | To amend Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, so as to |
|---|
| 8 | 20 | | 1 |
|---|
| 9 | 21 | | provide for the "Georgia Early Literacy Act"; to require the Department of Early Care and2 |
|---|
| 10 | 22 | | Learning to provide for developmentally appropriate evidence based literacy instruction3 |
|---|
| 11 | 23 | | training requirements for certain child care providers; to require the State Board of Education4 |
|---|
| 12 | 24 | | to establish a uniform standard for measuring literacy; to require the State Board of5 |
|---|
| 13 | 25 | | Education to approve high-quality instructional materials to be used for teaching students in6 |
|---|
| 14 | 26 | | kindergarten through third grade; to provide for the approval and use of universal reading7 |
|---|
| 15 | 27 | | screeners for all public school students in this state in kindergarten through third grade; to8 |
|---|
| 16 | 28 | | provide for the Department of Education to develop or procure training for kindergarten9 |
|---|
| 17 | 29 | | through third grade teachers on the science of reading, structured literacy, and foundational10 |
|---|
| 18 | 30 | | literacy skills; to require all public school kindergarten through third grade teachers in this11 |
|---|
| 19 | 31 | | state to complete such training; to provide for annual reports by the Department of12 |
|---|
| 20 | 32 | | Education; to require local boards of education to approve high-quality instructional13 |
|---|
| 21 | 33 | | materials for students in kindergarten through third grade and to administer universal reading14 |
|---|
| 22 | 34 | | screeners multiple times each school year to students in kindergarten through third grade; to15 |
|---|
| 23 | 35 | | require reports of the results of such screeners to parents of students and to the Department16 |
|---|
| 24 | 36 | | of Education for analysis; to require reading intervention plans for students with significant17 |
|---|
| 25 | 37 | | reading deficiencies; to prohibit certain waivers; to provide for formative reading18 |
|---|
| 31 | 44 | | based literacy instruction; to require the Professional Standards Commission to ensure22 |
|---|
| 32 | 45 | | students completing teacher certification programs have the knowledge and skills to teach23 |
|---|
| 33 | 46 | | reading; to provide for definitions; to provide for legislative findings and intent; to provide24 |
|---|
| 34 | 47 | | for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.25 |
|---|
| 35 | 48 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:26 |
|---|
| 36 | 49 | | SECTION 1.27 |
|---|
| 37 | 50 | | (a) The General Assembly finds that:28 |
|---|
| 38 | 51 | | (1) Third grade marks a pivotal point in reading, where students go from learning to read29 |
|---|
| 39 | 52 | | to reading to learn; 30 |
|---|
| 40 | 53 | | (2) A comprehensive approach to early literacy can ensure early identification of31 |
|---|
| 41 | 54 | | struggling readers and establish intensive reading intervention for students in kindergarten32 |
|---|
| 42 | 55 | | through third grade who need more support to become successful readers; and33 |
|---|
| 43 | 56 | | (3) Reading proficiency at age eight is among the most accurate predictors for whether a34 |
|---|
| 44 | 57 | | student will graduate from high school and enjoy academic success thereafter.35 |
|---|
| 45 | 58 | | (b) It is the intent of the General Assembly:36 |
|---|
| 46 | 59 | | (1) That all students read on grade level by the end of third grade; and37 |
|---|
| 47 | 60 | | (2) To create a literate and workforce ready citizenry.38 |
|---|
| 48 | 61 | | SECTION 2.39 |
|---|
| 49 | 62 | | Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, is amended in40 |
|---|
| 50 | 63 | | Article 1 of Chapter 1A, relating to general provisions regarding early care and learning, by41 |
|---|
| 51 | 64 | | revising subsection (c) of Code Section 20-1A-10, relating to regulation of early care and42 |
|---|
| 59 | 76 | | or commissioned by the department to receive training on developmentally appropriate49 |
|---|
| 60 | 77 | | evidence based literacy instruction, as provided for in Code Section 20-2-984. Such50 |
|---|
| 61 | 78 | | training shall be aligned with content standards promulgated the department in51 |
|---|
| 62 | 79 | | collaboration with the Office of Student Achievement."52 |
|---|
| 63 | 80 | | SECTION 3.53 |
|---|
| 64 | 81 | | Said title is further amended in Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2, relating to educational54 |
|---|
| 65 | 82 | | programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," by adding a new Code section to read as55 |
|---|
| 66 | 83 | | follows:56 |
|---|
| 67 | 84 | | "20-2-153.1.57 |
|---|
| 68 | 85 | | (a) This Code section shall be known and may be cited as the 'Georgia Early Literacy Act.'58 |
|---|
| 69 | 86 | | (b) As used in this Code section, the term:59 |
|---|
| 70 | 87 | | (1) 'Board' means the State Board of Education.60 |
|---|
| 71 | 88 | | (2) 'Department' means the Department of Education.61 |
|---|
| 72 | 89 | | (3) 'Foundational literacy skills' means phonological awareness, phonemic awareness,62 |
|---|
| 73 | 90 | | phonics, fluency, vocabulary, reading comprehension, spelling, oral language, and the63 |
|---|
| 74 | 91 | | intersection of reading and writing.64 |
|---|
| 75 | 92 | | (4) 'High-quality instructional materials' means instructional materials aligned to the65 |
|---|
| 76 | 93 | | science of reading that instruct students in foundational literacy skills and66 |
|---|
| 77 | 94 | | grade-appropriate English language arts and reading standards approved by the State67 |
|---|
| 78 | 95 | | Board of Education.68 |
|---|
| 79 | 96 | | (5) 'Reading intervention' means evidence based strategies frequently used to remediate69 |
|---|
| 84 | 102 | | (6) 'Science of reading' means the body of research that identifies evidence based73 |
|---|
| 85 | 103 | | approaches of explicitly and systematically teaching students to read, including74 |
|---|
| 86 | 104 | | foundational literacy skills that enable students to develop reading skills required to meet75 |
|---|
| 87 | 105 | | state standards in literacy.76 |
|---|
| 88 | 106 | | (7) 'Significant reading deficiency' means for students in kindergarten through third77 |
|---|
| 89 | 107 | | grade that such student's score on a universal reading screener is within the range of78 |
|---|
| 90 | 108 | | scores determined by the department to demonstrate a lack of proficiency in foundational79 |
|---|
| 91 | 109 | | literacy skills.80 |
|---|
| 92 | 110 | | (8) 'Structured literacy' means an evidence based approach to teaching oral and written81 |
|---|
| 93 | 111 | | language aligned to the science of reading founded on the science of how children learn82 |
|---|
| 94 | 112 | | to read and characterized by explicit, systematic, cumulative, and diagnostic instruction83 |
|---|
| 95 | 113 | | in phonology, sound-symbol association, syllable instruction, morphology, syntax, and84 |
|---|
| 96 | 114 | | semantics.85 |
|---|
| 97 | 115 | | (9) 'Tiered reading intervention plan' means a plan that describes the evidence based86 |
|---|
| 98 | 116 | | reading intervention services a student will receive to remediate such student's reading87 |
|---|
| 99 | 117 | | deficit and to ensure that such student becomes proficient in foundational literacy skills.88 |
|---|
| 100 | 118 | | (10) 'Universal reading screener' means a uniform tool that screens and monitors a89 |
|---|
| 101 | 119 | | student's progress in foundational literacy skills that is administered to students multiple90 |
|---|
| 102 | 120 | | times during the school year.91 |
|---|
| 103 | 121 | | (c)(1) The board, in consultation with the department and the Office of Student92 |
|---|
| 104 | 122 | | Achievement, shall establish such policies, rules, and regulations as necessary to93 |
|---|
| 105 | 123 | | implement uniform grade-appropriate metrics for measuring literacy.94 |
|---|
| 106 | 124 | | (2)(A) As soon as practicable but not later than January 1, 2024, the board shall:95 |
|---|
| 107 | 125 | | (i) Approve high-quality instructional materials to be used for teaching students in96 |
|---|
| 112 | 131 | | instructional materials and content, as defined in subsection (a) of Code Section100 |
|---|
| 113 | 132 | | 20-2-1017, constitute high-quality instructional materials.101 |
|---|
| 114 | 133 | | (3)(A) As soon as practicable but not later than January 1, 2024, the department shall102 |
|---|
| 115 | 134 | | establish qualifications, time lines, and submission procedures for education service103 |
|---|
| 116 | 135 | | providers to submit one or more universal reading screeners to be considered for104 |
|---|
| 117 | 136 | | inclusion on the board's list of approved universal reading screener providers provided105 |
|---|
| 118 | 137 | | for in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph.106 |
|---|
| 119 | 138 | | (B) As soon as practicable but not later than July 1, 2024, the board shall approve a list107 |
|---|
| 120 | 139 | | of universal reading screeners for use by public schools and local school systems as part108 |
|---|
| 121 | 140 | | of their comprehensive literacy programs which meet the following criteria:109 |
|---|
| 122 | 141 | | (i) Capable of providing relevant information to assist teachers with targeting110 |
|---|
| 123 | 142 | | instruction based on student needs;111 |
|---|
| 124 | 143 | | (ii) Capable of measuring foundational literacy skills;112 |
|---|
| 125 | 144 | | (iii) Capable of identifying students who have a significant reading deficiency,113 |
|---|
| 126 | 145 | | including, but not limited to, identifying students with characteristics of dyslexia;114 |
|---|
| 127 | 146 | | (iv) Prescribed parameters on the time required to administer universal reading115 |
|---|
| 128 | 147 | | screener with the primary objective of such prescription being to minimize impacts116 |
|---|
| 129 | 148 | | on instructional time; and117 |
|---|
| 130 | 149 | | (v) Capable of progress monitoring.118 |
|---|
| 131 | 150 | | (4)(A) As soon as practicable but not later than August 1, 2024, the department shall119 |
|---|
| 132 | 151 | | publish on its website a list of board approved providers of universal reading screeners120 |
|---|
| 133 | 152 | | for use by public schools and local school systems, including the free universal reading121 |
|---|
| 134 | 153 | | screener provided by the department.122 |
|---|
| 135 | 154 | | (B) The department shall provide a universal reading screener that meets the criteria123 |
|---|
| 136 | 155 | | established by the board as provided in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3) of this124 |
|---|
| 141 | 161 | | (5) The department shall, in consultation with the University System of Georgia, the128 |
|---|
| 142 | 162 | | Professional Standards Commission, the Office of Student Achievement, Georgia's129 |
|---|
| 143 | 163 | | Regional Education Service Agencies, and literacy experts, develop or procure one or130 |
|---|
| 144 | 164 | | more training programs for kindergarten through third grade teachers on the science of131 |
|---|
| 145 | 165 | | reading, structured literacy, and foundational literacy skills that enable students to132 |
|---|
| 146 | 166 | | develop reading skills required to meet state standards in literacy. Such training133 |
|---|
| 147 | 167 | | programs shall be developed or procured to promote teachers' knowledge and skills for134 |
|---|
| 148 | 168 | | teaching all students to read, including students with dyslexia, and to ensure teachers135 |
|---|
| 149 | 169 | | have the knowledge and skills necessary to use approved universal reading screeners and136 |
|---|
| 150 | 170 | | to use assessment data to inform instruction based on student needs.137 |
|---|
| 151 | 171 | | (6) The department shall provide technical assistance to aid public schools and local138 |
|---|
| 152 | 172 | | school systems in implementing the provisions of this Code section.139 |
|---|
| 153 | 173 | | (7) Beginning April 1, 2026, the department shall provide an annual report on the140 |
|---|
| 154 | 174 | | impacts of the implementation of the provisions of this Code section, including, but not141 |
|---|
| 155 | 175 | | limited to, reporting the results by school and school system of:142 |
|---|
| 156 | 176 | | (A) The research based formative assessments with a summative component that is tied143 |
|---|
| 157 | 177 | | to performance indicators in English language arts and reading in grades one and two144 |
|---|
| 158 | 178 | | provided for in subsection (a) of Code Section 20-2-281;145 |
|---|
| 159 | 179 | | (B) The comprehensive summative assessment program for third grade students146 |
|---|
| 160 | 180 | | provided for in subsection (a) of Code Section 20-2-281;147 |
|---|
| 161 | 181 | | (C) The nationally norm referenced instruments in reading for third grade students148 |
|---|
| 162 | 182 | | provided for in subsection (a) of Code Section 20-2-281; and149 |
|---|
| 163 | 183 | | (D) The formative reading assessments for first and second grade students provided for150 |
|---|
| 164 | 184 | | in Code Section 20-2-280.151 |
|---|
| 165 | 185 | | Such report shall also include analyses of the the impact of use of universal reading152 |
|---|
| 170 | 191 | | the House Committee on Education, the Senate Education and Youth Committee, the156 |
|---|
| 171 | 192 | | House Committee on Higher Education, the Senate Higher Education Committee, and the157 |
|---|
| 172 | 193 | | board, and shall be made available on the department's website for access by the public.158 |
|---|
| 173 | 194 | | (d)(1) Local boards of education and public school governing bodies shall:159 |
|---|
| 174 | 195 | | (A) By December 1, 2024, approve high-quality instructional materials for students in160 |
|---|
| 175 | 196 | | kindergarten through third grade; and161 |
|---|
| 176 | 197 | | (B) By December 15, 2024, and by August 1 each year thereafter, certify to the162 |
|---|
| 177 | 198 | | department that its locally approved instructional materials and content, as defined in163 |
|---|
| 178 | 199 | | subsection (a) of Code Section 20-2-1017, constitute high-quality instructional164 |
|---|
| 179 | 200 | | materials.165 |
|---|
| 180 | 201 | | (2)(A) Each public school and local school system shall provide instructional support166 |
|---|
| 181 | 202 | | for kindergarten through third grade teachers that shall include:167 |
|---|
| 182 | 203 | | (i) Onsite teacher training on the science of reading, structured literacy, foundational168 |
|---|
| 183 | 204 | | literacy skills, and evidence based decision making;169 |
|---|
| 184 | 205 | | (ii) Demonstrated lessons; and170 |
|---|
| 185 | 206 | | (iii) Prompt feedback for improving instruction.171 |
|---|
| 186 | 207 | | (B)(i) Any public school or local school system claiming that a lack of sufficient172 |
|---|
| 187 | 208 | | funding prevents such public school or local school system from providing173 |
|---|
| 188 | 209 | | instructional support as required in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall promptly174 |
|---|
| 189 | 210 | | and in writing notify the Department of Education and shall describe all efforts such175 |
|---|
| 190 | 211 | | school or school system has undertaken to secure sufficient funding from local, state,176 |
|---|
| 191 | 212 | | federal, and private sources.177 |
|---|
| 192 | 213 | | (ii) The Department of Education shall provide technical assistance and other178 |
|---|
| 193 | 214 | | guidance to public schools and local schools systems in identifying local, state,179 |
|---|
| 194 | 215 | | federal, and private funding sources to provide for instructional support as required180 |
|---|
| 199 | 221 | | kindergarten through third grade, with the first administration occurring within 30 days184 |
|---|
| 200 | 222 | | of the beginning of the school year; provided, however, that for students in first and185 |
|---|
| 201 | 223 | | second grades such public school or local school system shall be authorized to186 |
|---|
| 202 | 224 | | substitute one administration of a universal reading screener with an administration of187 |
|---|
| 203 | 225 | | a formative reading assessment as provided for in Code Section 20-2-280.188 |
|---|
| 204 | 226 | | (B) Each public school or local school system shall be authorized to administer a free189 |
|---|
| 205 | 227 | | universal reading screener provided by the department or a universal reading screener190 |
|---|
| 206 | 228 | | approved by the board.191 |
|---|
| 207 | 229 | | (C) After each administration of a universal reading screener, each public school or192 |
|---|
| 208 | 230 | | local school system shall report the results to:193 |
|---|
| 209 | 231 | | (i) Parents and guardians of students who participated in the administration; and194 |
|---|
| 210 | 232 | | (ii) The department for analysis.195 |
|---|
| 211 | 233 | | (D) The results of the universal reading screeners administered to students shall not be196 |
|---|
| 212 | 234 | | used as part of any education assessment accountability program provided for in197 |
|---|
| 213 | 235 | | Article 2 of Chapter 14 of this title.198 |
|---|
| 214 | 236 | | (4)(A) Beginning August 1, 2024, public schools and local school systems shall199 |
|---|
| 215 | 237 | | implement tiered reading intervention plans for public school students in kindergarten200 |
|---|
| 216 | 238 | | through third grade who at any time during the school year exhibits a significant201 |
|---|
| 217 | 239 | | reading deficiency, as measured by performance on universal reading screener202 |
|---|
| 218 | 240 | | approved by the board. Each such tiered reading intervention plan shall be203 |
|---|
| 219 | 241 | | implemented no later than 30 days after a student has been identified as exhibiting a204 |
|---|
| 220 | 242 | | significant reading deficiency and shall describe the evidence based reading205 |
|---|
| 221 | 243 | | intervention services the student will receive to remedy the reading deficit and ensure206 |
|---|
| 222 | 244 | | the student becomes proficient in foundational literacy skills. Such tiered reading207 |
|---|
| 223 | 245 | | intervention plans may be incorporated into and included as part of the school's existing208 |
|---|
| 225 | 248 | | - 9 - |
|---|
| 226 | 249 | | (B) Each student who has been identified as exhibiting a significant reading deficiency210 |
|---|
| 227 | 250 | | shall receive intensive reading intervention until such student is no longer identified as211 |
|---|
| 228 | 251 | | exhibiting a significant reading deficiency.212 |
|---|
| 229 | 252 | | (C) The parent or guardian of any student in kindergarten through third grade who at213 |
|---|
| 230 | 253 | | any time during the school year exhibits a significant reading deficiency shall be214 |
|---|
| 231 | 254 | | notified in writing by the student's school no later than 15 days after the identification215 |
|---|
| 232 | 255 | | of the possible deficiency. Such written notification shall include:216 |
|---|
| 233 | 256 | | (i) That the student has been identified as exhibiting a significant reading deficiency;217 |
|---|
| 234 | 257 | | (ii) That a tiered reading intervention plan will be implemented by the student's218 |
|---|
| 235 | 258 | | teacher;219 |
|---|
| 236 | 259 | | (iii) Results of the student's performance on the universal reading screeners220 |
|---|
| 237 | 260 | | administered to date;221 |
|---|
| 238 | 261 | | (iv) A description of the current services provided to the student;222 |
|---|
| 239 | 262 | | (v) A description of proposed evidence based reading interventions and supplemental223 |
|---|
| 240 | 263 | | instructional services and supports to be provided to the student that are designed to224 |
|---|
| 241 | 264 | | remedy the identified area or areas of significant reading deficiency to ensure the225 |
|---|
| 242 | 265 | | student becomes proficient in foundational literacy skills;226 |
|---|
| 243 | 266 | | (vi) Notification that the parent or guardian will be informed in writing of the227 |
|---|
| 244 | 267 | | student's progress toward grade level reading; and228 |
|---|
| 245 | 268 | | (vii) Strategies for parents to use at home to help their child succeed in reading.229 |
|---|
| 246 | 269 | | (5) By July 1, 2025, all kindergarten through third grade teachers shall complete a230 |
|---|
| 247 | 270 | | training program developed or procured pursuant to paragraph (c)(5) of this Code section.231 |
|---|
| 248 | 271 | | (e) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to abrogate or otherwise affect the232 |
|---|
| 249 | 272 | | operation or application of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)233 |
|---|
| 250 | 273 | | or Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973.234 |
|---|
| 251 | 274 | | (f) This Code section shall not be subject to waivers pursuant to Code Section 20-2-82 for235 |
|---|
| 252 | 275 | | a strategic waivers school system, Code Section 20-2-244 for a local board of education,236 |
|---|
| 254 | 278 | | - 10 - |
|---|
| 255 | 279 | | school established pursuant to Article 31 or Article 31A of this chapter, a charter system,238 |
|---|
| 256 | 280 | | or schools within a charter system, or any state special school."239 |
|---|
| 257 | 281 | | SECTION 4.240 |
|---|
| 258 | 282 | | Said chapter is further amended Part 12 of Article 6, relating to effectiveness of educational241 |
|---|
| 259 | 283 | | programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," by revising Code Section 20-2-280,242 |
|---|
| 260 | 284 | | which was previously reserved, as follows:243 |
|---|
| 261 | 285 | | "20-2-280.244 |
|---|
| 262 | 286 | | (a) The State Board of Education shall adopt a formative reading assessment for students245 |
|---|
| 263 | 287 | | in first and second grades at the discretion of public schools and local school systems.246 |
|---|
| 264 | 288 | | (b) After each administration of such assessments, each public school or local school247 |
|---|
| 265 | 289 | | system shall report the results to:248 |
|---|
| 266 | 290 | | (1) Parents and guardians of students who participated in the administration; and249 |
|---|
| 267 | 291 | | (2) The Department of Education for analysis and verification purposes.250 |
|---|
| 268 | 292 | | (c) The results of the assessments administered to students as provided for in251 |
|---|
| 269 | 293 | | subsection (b) this Code section shall not be used as part of any education assessment252 |
|---|
| 270 | 294 | | accountability program provided for in Article 2 of Chapter 14 of this title. Reserved."253 |
|---|
| 271 | 295 | | SECTION 5.254 |
|---|
| 272 | 296 | | Said chapter is further amended in Part 10 of Article 17, relating to professional standards,255 |
|---|
| 273 | 297 | | by revising subsections (a) and (b) of Code Section 20-2-984, relating to Professional256 |
|---|
| 274 | 298 | | Standards Commission — authority to create and implement standards and procedures for257 |
|---|
| 275 | 299 | | certifying educational personnel, recommending standards and procedures for certification,258 |
|---|
| 276 | 300 | | continuation of teaching certificates, and restrictions, to read as follows:259 |
|---|
| 277 | 301 | | "(a) The commission shall create and implement standards and procedures for certifying260 |
|---|
| 278 | 302 | | educational personnel as qualified for a certificate to practice in the public schools of261 |
|---|
| 279 | 303 | | Georgia; provided, however, that such standards and procedures shall not require an262 |
|---|
| 281 | 306 | | - 11 - |
|---|
| 282 | 307 | | as such term is defined in Code Section 20-1-11, are advocated for; provided, further, that |
|---|
| 283 | 308 | | 264 |
|---|
| 284 | 309 | | such standards shall include the following:265 |
|---|
| 285 | 310 | | (1) Procedures for limiting the number and types of certificates to the fewest possible266 |
|---|
| 286 | 311 | | consistent with providing qualified teachers for Georgia's schools;267 |
|---|
| 287 | 312 | | (2) In-service training and related requirements needed to renew or maintain268 |
|---|
| 288 | 313 | | certification;269 |
|---|
| 289 | 314 | | (3) Multiple or alternative routes to professional teacher certification, including, but not270 |
|---|
| 290 | 315 | | limited to, the alternative and nontraditional teacher certification programs provided for271 |
|---|
| 291 | 316 | | in Code Section 20-2-206; provided, however, that the commission's standards and |
|---|
| 292 | 317 | | 272 |
|---|
| 293 | 318 | | procedures consider for in-state certification nationally accredited teacher certification273 |
|---|
| 294 | 319 | | programs outside of this state which are state sponsored and meet the academic274 |
|---|
| 295 | 320 | | accreditation and certification requirements of the commission; and275 |
|---|
| 296 | 321 | | (4)(A) Requirements, including appropriate examinations and assessments, for276 |
|---|
| 297 | 322 | | acquiring and maintaining certification pursuant to Code Section 20-2-200.277 |
|---|
| 298 | 323 | | (B) Beginning July 1, 2025, the Georgia Assessments for Certification of Educators278 |
|---|
| 299 | 324 | | (GACE), or any other assessment required by the commission for teacher certification,279 |
|---|
| 300 | 325 | | shall be aligned with developmentally appropriate evidence based literacy instruction.280 |
|---|
| 301 | 326 | | (b) The commission shall recommend to the board of regents and private colleges and281 |
|---|
| 302 | 327 | | universities standards and procedures for preparing educational personnel to qualify for282 |
|---|
| 303 | 328 | | initial and renewable certification to practice in the public schools of Georgia, including283 |
|---|
| 304 | 329 | | the following:284 |
|---|
| 305 | 330 | | (1) Pre-service preparation;285 |
|---|
| 306 | 331 | | (2) Approval of teacher education programs, both graduate and undergraduate, which286 |
|---|
| 307 | 332 | | shall include, at a minimum, mandatory coursework in:287 |
|---|
| 308 | 333 | | (A) Differentiated instruction, including the development and implementation of288 |
|---|
| 309 | 334 | | explicit curricula to effectively support and deliver differentiated instruction to students.289 |
|---|
| 310 | 335 | | As used in this subparagraph, the term 'differentiated instruction' means instruction that290 |
|---|
| 312 | 338 | | - 12 - |
|---|
| 313 | 339 | | achievement, learning styles, and needs, including but not limited to, at-risk students,292 |
|---|
| 314 | 340 | | English language learners, students with special needs, and gifted students, and that293 |
|---|
| 315 | 341 | | gives greater emphasis to individualization in teaching by making adjustments to294 |
|---|
| 316 | 342 | | curricula, materials, learning activities, and assessment techniques to ensure that all295 |
|---|
| 317 | 343 | | students in a mixed-ability classroom can have equal access to appropriate avenues for296 |
|---|
| 318 | 344 | | processing new information and developing skills; and297 |
|---|
| 319 | 345 | | (B) Instruction related to the development of fundamental reading skills, including298 |
|---|
| 320 | 346 | | phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and reading comprehension;299 |
|---|
| 321 | 347 | | (3) Approval of programs of alternative certification; and300 |
|---|
| 322 | 348 | | (4) The creation of innovative programs designed to increase the number of minority301 |
|---|
| 323 | 349 | | teachers entering the profession, including, but not limited to, programs designed to302 |
|---|
| 324 | 350 | | promote increased student enrollment in and completion of teacher education programs303 |
|---|
| 325 | 351 | | offered at historically black colleges and universities in this state.; and304 |
|---|
| 326 | 352 | | (5) The creation of standards designed to ensure that postsecondary students completing305 |
|---|
| 327 | 353 | | teacher certification programs in this state graduate with the knowledge and skills306 |
|---|
| 328 | 354 | | necessary to teach reading."307 |
|---|
| 329 | 355 | | SECTION 6.308 |
|---|
| 330 | 356 | | All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.309 |
|---|