ENROLLED
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 11
BY REPRESENTATIVES HUGHES, BRASS, BRYANT, GARY CARTER, CREWS,
DUPLESSIS, FREEMAN, GREEN, HARRIS, ILLG, JAMES, JEFFERSON,
JENKINS, MIKE JOHNSON, JONES, JORDAN, LANDRY, LARVADAIN,
LYONS, MARCELLE, MOORE, NEWELL, CHARLES OWEN, PIERRE,
SELDERS, STAGNI, AND WILLARD AND SENATORS ALLAIN, BARROW,
BERNARD, BOUIE, FIELDS, JACKSON, LUNEAU, PETERSON, PRICE,
WHITE, AND WOMACK
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to
develop a plan to provide school literacy coaches in all elementary schools identified
as needing improvement no later than the start of the 2022-2023 school year.
WHEREAS, House Resolution No. 222 and Senate Resolution No. 182, both of the
2019 Regular Session of the Legislature, requested the state Department of Education to
establish the Louisiana Early Literacy Commission to study and make recommendations to
develop and implement an aligned system to provide effective evidence-based reading
instruction for children from birth through third grade; and
WHEREAS, the commission was co-chaired by the state superintendent of education
and a designee from the Louisiana Board of Regents; and
WHEREAS, the commission met numerous times and released a report in January
2020 outlining policy, program, and funding recommendations intended to support educators
and children relative to early literacy; the recommendations included instructional and
intervention materials and professional development for teachers; and
WHEREAS, in response to the commission's recommendations, the legislature
appropriated two million dollars to develop a K - 2 literacy coaching model; define the scope
of educator training; and to develop metrics for program implementation, standards for data
analysis, and coaching schedules; and
WHEREAS, the commission published an addendum to the report one year later,
which outlined a need for fifteen million dollars annually to increase the number of literacy
coaches; support the creation of local literacy plans; and provide professional development
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in the foundations of reading, high quality teacher-student interactions, and literacy
coaching; and
WHEREAS, the state Department of Education has set a goal of having a school-
level literacy coach in every public school identified as needing improvement by the 2024-
2025 school year; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters in 2020 and 2021 have
exacerbated gaps in early literacy in Louisiana, thereby creating an even more urgent need
to address early literacy across the state, while leveraging all sources of available funding.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request BESE to develop a plan for full implementation of school literacy coaching
for students in kindergarten through second grade.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in developing the plan, BESE shall consult with
department staff and members of the Louisiana Early Literacy Commission; the plan shall
provide for full implementation for students in kindergarten through the second grade in all
elementary schools identified as needing improvement not later than the 2022-2023 school
year, and in doing so, leverage all available sources of federal and state funds.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that BESE shall submit the plan to the governor, the
legislature, and the Louisiana Early Literacy Commission not later than December 31, 2021.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that BESE shall provide a written report regarding
implementation, progress, and results to the governor, the legislature, and the Louisiana
Early Literacy Commission at least twice between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2025.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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