Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S2653 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2653
2	2	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
3	3	_______________
4	4	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
5	5	(2023-2024)
6	6	_______________
7	7	SENATE, March 21, 2024.
8	8	The committee on Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill,
9	9	Senate, No. 263) of Sal N. DiDomenico, Paul W. Mark, John C. Velis, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.
10	10	and other members of the General Court for legislation to promote high-quality comprehensive
11	11	literacy instruction in all Massachusetts schools, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No.
12	12	2653).
13	13	For the committee,
14	14	Jason M. Lewis 1 of 6
15	15	FILED ON: 2/7/2024
16	16	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2653
17	17	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
18	18	_______________
19	19	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
20	20	(2023-2024)
21	21	_______________
22	22	An Act to promote high-quality early literacy instruction and improve student outcomes.
23	23	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
24	24	of the same, as follows:
25	25	1 SECTION 1. Section 55A of chapter 15 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
26	26	2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the words “curriculum and assessments;”
27	27	3in line 56, the following language:-
28	28	4 (6) evaluate the alignment of literacy instructional materials and curricula with
29	29	5department-recommended high quality literacy instructional materials and curricula, as per
30	30	6section 1E of chapter 69;
31	31	7 SECTION 2. Said section 55A of chapter 15, as so appearing, is hereby further amended
32	32	8by striking the language “(6) review the progress of overall student achievement and; (7)
33	33	9evaluate student performance, school and district management, overall district governance and
34	34	10any other areas deemed necessary by the office.” in lines 56 through 59, and replacing it with the
35	35	11following language:- 2 of 6
36	36	12 (7) review the progress of overall student achievement and; (8) evaluate student
37	37	13performance, school and district management, overall district governance and any other areas
38	38	14deemed necessary by the office.
39	39	15 SECTION 3. Section 1E of chapter 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
40	40	16Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end of the first paragraph the following
41	41	17sentence:- Curricula selected to meet the curriculum frameworks for elementary literacy must be
42	42	18aligned with evidence-based literacy instruction.
43	43	19 SECTION 4. Subsection (c)(ii) of section 1S of chapter 69 of the General Laws, as so
44	44	20appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 41, the words “and (J)”, and inserting in
45	45	21place thereof the following words:- (J) implementing evidence-based literacy instruction; and
46	46	22(K)
47	47	23 SECTION 3. Said subsection (c)(ii) of section 1S of chapter 69, as so appearing, is
48	48	24hereby further amended by striking out, in line 44, the word “(I)”, and inserting in place thereof
49	49	25the following word:- (J)
50	50	26 SECTION 5. Section 38G of chapter 71 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby
51	51	27amended by inserting after the word “personnel”, in line 281, the following:-
52	52	28 provided that policies and guidelines must include alignment with evidence-based
53	53	29literacy instruction for educator preparation programs to be approved.
54	54	30 SECTION 6.
55	55	31 Section 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, as used in this bill,
56	56	32the following words shall, unless the context requires otherwise, have the following meanings:- 3 of 6
57	57	33 “department” means the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
58	58	34 “Evidence-based literacy instruction" means structured instructional practices, including
59	59	35sequential, systematic, explicit, and cumulative teaching, that (i) are based on reliable,
60	60	36trustworthy, and valid evidence consistent with science-based reading research; (ii) are used in
61	61	37core or general instruction, supplemental instruction, intervention services, and intensive
62	62	38intervention services; (iii) have a demonstrated record of success in adequately increasing
63	63	39students' reading competency, vocabulary, oral language, and comprehension and in building
64	64	40mastery of the foundational reading skills of phonological and phonemic awareness, alphabetic
65	65	41principle, phonics, spelling, and text reading fluency; and (iv) are able to be differentiated in
66	66	42order to meet the individual needs of students. Evidence-based literacy instruction should align
67	67	43with scientifically based reading research standards set forth in 20 USC 6368 (3)(4)(5)(6)(7).
68	68	44 "Science-based reading research" means research that (i) applies rigorous, systematic,
69	69	45and objective observational or experimental procedures to obtain valid knowledge relevant to
70	70	46reading development, reading instruction, and reading and writing difficulties and (ii) explains
71	71	47how proficient reading and writing develop, why some children have difficulties developing key
72	72	48literacy skills, and how schools can best assess and instruct early literacy, including the use of
73	73	49evidence-based literacy instruction practices to promote reading and writing achievement.
74	74	50 Section 2. (a) The department shall provide tools and resources to aid districts in
75	75	51providing adequate professional development aligned with evidence-based literacy instruction
76	76	52and science-based reading research for literacy teachers, paraprofessionals, and reading
77	77	53specialists in grades pre-kindergarten through third grade.
78	78	54 (b) The department shall create and maintain 4 of 6
79	79	55 i. A list of department-approved, high-quality professional development programs and
80	80	56vendors aligned with evidence-based literacy instruction best practices and science-based reading
81	81	57research.
82	82	58 ii. A set of online training modules available and free to all teachers that provide training
83	83	59on the foundational practices and pedagogy aligned with evidence-based literacy instruction best
84	84	60practices and science-based reading research.
85	85	61 Section 3: Each school district shall at least two times per year assess each student's
86	86	62reading ability and progress in literacy skills, from kindergarten through at least third grade,
87	87	63using a valid, developmentally appropriate screening instrument approved by the department.
88	88	64Consistent with section 2 of chapter 71B of the general laws and the department's dyslexia and
89	89	65literacy guidelines, if such screenings determine that a student is significantly below relevant
90	90	66benchmarks for age-typical development in specific literacy skills, the school shall determine
91	91	67which actions within the general education program will meet the student's needs, including
92	92	68differentiated or supplementary evidence-based literacy instruction and ongoing monitoring of
93	93	69progress. Within 30 school days of a screening result that is significantly below the relevant
94	94	70benchmarks, the school shall inform the student's parent or guardian of the screening results and
95	95	71the school's response and shall offer them the opportunity for a follow-up discussion.
96	96	72 Section 4: (a) The department shall create guidelines for districts to use to determine if
97	97	73any students exhibit a reading deficiency. Guidelines shall include the steps that districts must
98	98	74follow to address and remedy such reading deficiencies. The department shall consult experts to
99	99	75identify and make available to districts literacy intervention approaches that are aligned with the
100	100	76essential components of evidence-based literacy instruction and science-based reading research. 5 of 6
101	101	77 (b) Districts shall follow department guidelines established in subsection (a) for any
102	102	78student in kindergarten through grade 3 who exhibits a deficiency in reading.
103	103	79 Section 5: (a)(1) The department shall identify a list of data requirements for reporting
104	104	80purposes in order to ensure that districts are implementing evidence-based literacy instruction
105	105	81under this bill. The department shall publish reporting requirements by the start of each school
106	106	82year.
107	107	83 (2) Beginning in 2025, each district shall report annually to the department, on or before
108	108	84October 31, the data reporting requirements set out in subsection (a)(1).
109	109	85 (b) Annually, beginning no later than December 31, 2025, the department shall aggregate
110	110	86data collected from each district under this section and file a report with the clerks of the senate
111	111	87and house of representatives, the joint committee on education and made public on the
112	112	88department’s website.
113	113	89 Section 6. The department shall convene a panel of expert stakeholders to study the early
114	114	90literacy education landscape in the Commonwealth and draft recommendations to maximize
115	115	91dissemination of evidence-based literacy instruction best practices among the educator workforce
116	116	92in Massachusetts, which shall include, but not be limited to, pre-service training for teachers,
117	117	93administrators, and related school-based service providers; professional development for in-
118	118	94service teachers, administrators, and related school-based service providers; best practices related
119	119	95to educator licensure, license endorsements or similar credentials intended to demonstrate
120	120	96advanced knowledge of evidence-based literacy instruction best practices; and such other matters
121	121	97as the panel may determine would advance more equitable literacy outcomes for all
122	122	98Massachusetts students. 6 of 6
123	123	99 Said recommendations shall be published in a report filed with the clerks of the senate
124	124	100and the house of representatives, the joint committee on education and made public on the
125	125	101department’s website no later than December 31, 2025.
126	126	102 Section 7. The department shall promulgate such rules and regulations as it deems
127	127	103necessary to implement the provisions of this bill.