HLS 21RS-553 ENGROSSED
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 11
BY REPRESENTATIVE HUGHES
STUDENTS: Requests the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop
a plan for providing school literacy coaches for students in kindergarten through
second grade in elementary schools identified as needing improvement
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to
3 develop a plan to provide school literacy coaches in all elementary schools identified
4 as needing improvement no later than the start of the 2022-2023 school year.
5 WHEREAS, House Resolution No. 222 and Senate Resolution No. 182, both of the
62019 Regular Session of the Legislature, requested the state Department of Education to
7establish the Louisiana Early Literacy Commission to study and make recommendations to
8develop and implement an aligned system to provide effective evidence-based reading
9instruction for children from birth through third grade; and
10 WHEREAS, the commission was co-chaired by the state superintendent of education
11and a designee from the Louisiana Board of Regents; and
12 WHEREAS, the commission met numerous times and released a report in January
132020 outlining policy, program, and funding recommendations intended to support educators
14and children relative to early literacy; the recommendations included instructional and
15intervention materials and professional development for teachers; and
16 WHEREAS, in response to the commission's recommendations, the legislature
17appropriated two million dollars to develop a K - 2 literacy coaching model; define the scope
18of educator training; and to develop metrics for program implementation, standards for data
19analysis, and coaching schedules; and
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HCR NO. 11
1 WHEREAS, the commission published an addendum to the report one year later,
2which outlined a need for fifteen million dollars annually to increase the number of literacy
3coordinators; support the creation of local literacy plans; and provide professional
4development in the foundations of reading, high quality teacher-student interactions, and
5literacy coaching; and
6 WHEREAS, the state Department of Education has set a goal of having a school-
7level literacy coach in every public school identified as needing improvement by the 2024-
82025 school year; and
9 WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters in 2020 and 2021 have
10exacerbated gaps in early literacy in Louisiana, thereby creating an even more urgent need
11to address early literacy across the state, while leveraging all sources of available funding.
12 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
13urge and request BESE to develop a plan for full implementation of school literacy coaches
14for students in kindergarten through second grade.
15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in developing the plan, BESE shall consult with
16department staff, members of the Louisiana Early Literacy Commission, and the
17commissioner of administration; the plan shall provide for full implementation for students
18in kindergarten through the second grade in all elementary schools identified as needing
19improvement not later than the 2022-2023 school year, and in doing so, leverage all
20available sources of federal and state funds.
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that BESE shall submit the plan to the governor, the
22commissioner of administration, the legislature, and the Louisiana Early Literacy
23Commission not later than September 30, 2021.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that BESE shall provide a written report regarding
25implementation, progress, and results to the governor, the legislature, and the Louisiana
26Early Literacy Commission at least twice between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2025.
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HCR NO. 11
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 11 Engrossed 2021 Regular Session Hughes
Requests the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop a plan for
providing school literacy coaches for certain students and report results to the governor, the
commissioner of administration, and the legislature twice before the end of 2025.
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