HLS 21RS-2458 ORIGINAL 2021 Regular Session HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 71 BY REPRESENTATIVE JAMES SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH: Recognizes May 6, 2021, as Literacy Day at the state capitol 1 A RESOLUTION 2To recognize Thursday, May 6, 2021, as Literacy Day at the state capitol. 3 WHEREAS, 74% of Louisiana's fourth grade students do not read proficiently, and 4dyslexia is a specific learning disability that affects as many as one in five people; and 5 WHEREAS, students who do not read proficiently by the end of the third grade are 6four times more likely to drop out of school, and those who have not mastered at least a 7basic level of reading proficiency are nearly six times as likely to leave school without 8earning a diploma; and 9 WHEREAS, Louisiana spends more than $270 million annually to remediate students 10who read below grade level, thus making reading an activity that has both educational and 11economic significance; and 12 WHEREAS, the Center for Development and Learning was founded in 1992 to 13develop and disseminate leading-edge scientific research, knowledge, and best practices that 14improve teaching and increase student learning; and 15 WHEREAS, the Center for Development and Learning focuses on closing the 16achievement gap by increasing teacher effectiveness and advancing public education reform 17and by providing educators who teach our most at-risk children with professional learning 18that is specific and targeted to their needs; and 19 WHEREAS, with an in-the-trenches approach, the Center for Development and 20Learning tackles real-world issues in an effective way by searching for ways to remediate Page 1 of 2 HLS 21RS-2458 ORIGINAL HR NO. 71 1struggling readers, differentiate instruction for diverse learners, and build and sustain 2collective capacity; and 3 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department of Education has emphasized the importance 4of improving Louisiana's literacy rates, and has launched a new initiative to spark a reading 5revival across the state by providing tools for system leaders, classroom teachers, and family 6members to support children on their journey to literacy; and 7 WHEREAS, improving the literacy rates in Louisiana is necessary to increase a 8student's success in all areas of his education. 9 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the 10Legislature of Louisiana does hereby recognize Thursday, May 6, 2021, as Literacy Day at 11the state capitol and does hereby commend and thank the Center for Development and 12Learning for its dedication to improving reading proficiency in all of Louisiana's students. 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)] HR 71 Original 2021 Regular Session James Recognizes May 6, 2021, as Literacy Day at the state capitol. Page 2 of 2