Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H4423 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	HOUSE . . . . . . . . No. 4423
2	2	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
3	3	________________________________________
4	4	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, February 26, 2024.
5	5	The committee on Education, to whom was referred the petition
6	6	(accompanied by bill, House, No. 579) of Danillo A. Sena and others for
7	7	legislation to promote high-quality comprehensive literacy instruction in
8	8	schools, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No.
9	9	4423) ought to pass.
10	10	For the committee,
11	11	DENISE C. GARLICK. 1 of 6
12	12	FILED ON: 2/7/2024
13	13	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4423
14	14	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
15	15	_______________
16	16	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
17	17	(2023-2024)
18	18	_______________
19	19	An Act to promote high-quality early literacy instruction and improve student outcomes.
20	20	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
21	21	of the same, as follows:
22	22	1 SECTION 1. Section 55A of chapter 15 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
23	23	2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “curriculum and assessments;”
24	24	3in line 56, the following language:-
25	25	4 (6) evaluate the alignment of literacy instructional materials and curricula with
26	26	5department-recommended high quality literacy instructional materials and curricula, as per
27	27	6section 1E of chapter 69;
28	28	7 SECTION 2. Said section 55A of chapter 15, as so appearing, is hereby further amended
29	29	8by striking the language “(6) review the progress of overall student achievement and; (7)
30	30	9evaluate student performance, school and district management, overall district governance and
31	31	10any other areas deemed necessary by the office.” in lines 56 through 59, and replacing it with the
32	32	11following language:- 2 of 6
33	33	12 (7) review the progress of overall student achievement and; (8) evaluate student
34	34	13performance, school and district management, overall district governance and any other areas
35	35	14deemed necessary by the office.
36	36	15 SECTION 3. Section 1E of chapter 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
37	37	16Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end of the first paragraph the following
38	38	17sentence:-
39	39	18 Curricula selected to meet the curriculum frameworks for elementary literacy must be
40	40	19aligned with evidence-based literacy instruction.
41	41	20 SECTION 4. Subsection (c)(ii) of section 1S of chapter 69 of the General Laws, as so
42	42	21appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 41, the words “and (J)”, and inserting in
43	43	22place thereof the following words:- (J) implementing evidence-based literacy instruction; and
44	44	23(K)
45	45	24 SECTION 3. Said subsection (c)(ii) of section 1S of chapter 69, as so appearing, is
46	46	25hereby further amended by striking out, in line 44, the word “(I)”, and inserting in place thereof
47	47	26the following word:- (J)
48	48	27 SECTION 5. Section 38G of chapter 71 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
49	49	28amended by inserting after the word “personnel”, in line 281, the following:-
50	50	29 ; provided that policies and guidelines must include alignment with evidence-based
51	51	30literacy instruction for educator preparation programs to be approved.
52	52	31 SECTION 6. 3 of 6
53	53	32 Section 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, as used in this bill,
54	54	33the following words shall, unless the context requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-
55	55	34 “department” means the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
56	56	35 “Evidence-based literacy instruction" means structured instructional practices, including
57	57	36sequential, systematic, explicit, and cumulative teaching, that (i) are based on reliable,
58	58	37trustworthy, and valid evidence consistent with science-based reading research; (ii) are used in
59	59	38core or general instruction, supplemental instruction, intervention services, and intensive
60	60	39intervention services; (iii) have a demonstrated record of success in adequately increasing
61	61	40students' reading competency, vocabulary, oral language, and comprehension and in building
62	62	41mastery of the foundational reading skills of phonological and phonemic awareness, alphabetic
63	63	42principle, phonics, spelling, and text reading fluency; and (iv) are able to be differentiated in
64	64	43order to meet the individual needs of students. Evidence-based literacy instruction should align
65	65	44with scientifically based reading research standards set forth in 20 USC 6368 (3)(4)(5)(6)(7).
66	66	45 "Science-based reading research" means research that (i) applies rigorous, systematic,
67	67	46and objective observational or experimental procedures to obtain valid knowledge relevant to
68	68	47reading development, reading instruction, and reading and writing difficulties and (ii) explains
69	69	48how proficient reading and writing develop, why some children have difficulties developing key
70	70	49literacy skills, and how schools can best assess and instruct early literacy, including the use of
71	71	50evidence-based literacy instruction practices to promote reading and writing achievement.
72	72	51 Section 2. (a) The department shall provide tools and resources to aid districts in
73	73	52providing adequate professional development aligned with evidence-based literacy instruction 4 of 6
74	74	53and science-based reading research for literacy teachers, paraprofessionals, and reading
75	75	54specialists in grades pre-kindergarten through third grade.
76	76	55 (b) The department shall create and maintain
77	77	56 i. A list of department-approved, high-quality professional development programs and
78	78	57vendors aligned with evidence-based literacy instruction best practices and science-based reading
79	79	58research.
80	80	59 ii. A set of online training modules available and free to all teachers that provide training
81	81	60on the foundational practices and pedagogy aligned with evidence-based literacy instruction best
82	82	61practices and science-based reading research.
83	83	62 Section 3: Each school district shall at least two times per year assess each student's
84	84	63reading ability and progress in literacy skills, from kindergarten through at least third grade,
85	85	64using a valid, developmentally appropriate screening instrument approved by the department.
86	86	65Consistent with section 2 of chapter 71B of the general laws and the department's dyslexia and
87	87	66literacy guidelines, if such screenings determine that a student is significantly below relevant
88	88	67benchmarks for age-typical development in specific literacy skills, the school shall determine
89	89	68which actions within the general education program will meet the student's needs, including
90	90	69differentiated or supplementary evidence-based literacy instruction and ongoing monitoring of
91	91	70progress. Within 30 school days of a screening result that is significantly below the relevant
92	92	71benchmarks, the school shall inform the student's parent or guardian of the screening results and
93	93	72the school's response and shall offer them the opportunity for a follow-up discussion.
94	94	73 Section 4: (a) The department shall create guidelines for districts to use to determine if
95	95	74any students exhibit a reading deficiency. Guidelines shall include the steps that districts must 5 of 6
96	96	75follow to address and remedy such reading deficiencies. The department shall consult experts to
97	97	76identify and make available to districts literacy intervention approaches that are aligned with the
98	98	77essential components of evidence-based literacy instruction and science-based reading research.
99	99	78 (b) Districts shall follow department guidelines established in subsection (a) for any
100	100	79student in kindergarten through grade 3 who exhibits a deficiency in reading.
101	101	80 Section 5: (a)(1) The department shall identify a list of data requirements for reporting
102	102	81purposes in order to ensure that districts are implementing evidence-based literacy instruction
103	103	82under this bill. The department shall publish reporting requirements by the start of each school
104	104	83year.
105	105	84 (2) Beginning in 2025, each district shall report annually to the department, on or before
106	106	85October 31, the data reporting requirements set out in subsection (a)(1).
107	107	86 (b) Annually, beginning no later than December 31, 2025, the department shall aggregate
108	108	87data collected from each district under this section and file a report with the clerks of the senate
109	109	88and house of representatives, the joint committee on education and made public on the
110	110	89department’s website.
111	111	90 Section 6. The department shall convene a panel of expert stakeholders to study the early
112	112	91literacy education landscape in the Commonwealth and draft recommendations to maximize
113	113	92dissemination of evidence-based literacy instruction best practices among the educator workforce
114	114	93in Massachusetts, which shall include, but not be limited to, pre-service training for teachers,
115	115	94administrators, and related school-based service providers; professional development for in-
116	116	95service teachers, administrators, and related school-based service providers; best practices related
117	117	96to educator licensure, license endorsements or similar credentials intended to demonstrate 6 of 6
118	118	97advanced knowledge of evidence-based literacy instruction best practices; and such other matters
119	119	98as the panel may determine would advance more equitable literacy outcomes for all
120	120	99Massachusetts students.
121	121	100 Said recommendations shall be published in a report filed with the clerks of the senate
122	122	101and the house of representatives, the joint committee on education and made public on the
123	123	102department’s website no later than December 31, 2025.
124	124	103 Section 7. The department shall promulgate such rules and regulations as it deems
125	125	104necessary to implement the provisions of this bill.