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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024)
HOUSE BILL 3952 By: Blancett
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to schools; amending Section 2,
Chapter 288, O.S.L. 2023 (70 O.S. Supp. 2023, Section
1210.508H), which relates to the Literacy
Instructional Team; adding an audiologist and vision
expert; and providing an effe ctive date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEO PLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY Section 2, Chapter 288, O.S.L.
2023 (70 O.S. Supp. 2023, Section 1210.508H), is amended to read as
follows:
Section 1210.508H A. Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year,
the State Department of Education shall establish a three -year pilot
program to employ a literacy instructional team to su pport school
districts in implementation of the requirements of Section 1210.508C
of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes this title. The Department
shall provide technical assistance for literacy instruction,
dyslexia, and related disorders, and serve as a primary source of
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information and support for schools in addressing the needs of
students struggling with literacy, dyslexia, and related disorders.
B. The Department shall employ a literacy instructional team
with team members who are placed regionally a cross the state. The
literacy instructional teams shall assist general education and
special education teachers in recognizing ed ucational needs to
improve literacy outcomes for all students including those with
dyslexia or identified with the risk charac teristics associated with
dyslexia. The role of the literacy instructional team shall also
include increasing professional awaren ess and instructional
competencies to meet the educational needs of all students inc luding
those with dyslexia or identified w ith risk characteristics
associated with dyslexia. The Department shall prioritize supports
and interventions including enrollmen t in reading trainings and
professional development for schools which have the highe st
percentage of students who do not demon strate sufficient reading
skills as established by the State Board of Education.
C. Literacy instructional team members employed by the
Department shall have training in:
1. The science of how students learn to r ead including
phonological awareness, phon ics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension,
writing, and language;
2. Foundation of multisensory, explicit, systematic, and
structured reading instruction;
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3. Identification of and the appropriate interventions,
accommodations, and teaching techniques for s truggling students;
4. The requirements of the Reading Sufficiency Act;
5. Special education laws and procedures; and
6. Appropriate interventions, accommodations, and assistive
technology supports for students with dyslexia or a related
disorder.
D. The literacy instructional team members employed by the
Department shall report to the Director of Reading Sufficiency and
have:
1. A minimum of five regional literacy leads, at least one who
shall be designated by the Department as a dyslexia specialist t o
provide school districts with support and resources that are
necessary to assist students with dyslexia. The Department shall
give preference to educators applying for regional literacy lead
who:
a. have an endorsement or certification as a certified
structured literacy dyslexia specialist or certified
academic language therapist,
b. are knowledgeable of multitiered systems of sup port,
and
c. have been trained in the identification of and
intervention for dyslexi a and related disorders
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including best practice interventions and treatment
models for dyslexia; and
2. A minimum of ten literacy specialists. The Department shall
give preference to educators applying for literacy specialist who:
a. have training in the science of reading,
b. are knowledgeable of multitiered systems of support,
and
c. have been trained in the identification of and
intervention for dyslexia and related dis orders
including best practice interventions and treatment
models for dyslexia; and
3. An audiologist who shall be designated by the Department as
an auditory specialist to provide school districts with support and
resources that are necessary to assist students with auditory
pathway disorders as they relate to learning .
4. A vision expert(s) who shall be design ated by the Department
as a vision specialist to provide school districts with support and
resources that are necessary to assist students with vision problems
as they relate to learning.
E. The State Department of Education shal l submit a report to
the Governor, the Pre sident Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the
Speaker of the House of Representatives by Decemb er 31, 2026, that
includes an evaluation of the pilot pr ogram by school districts,
data on whether the program had an impac t on increasing the number
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of students who demonstrate proficiency in reading, and
recommendations for changes to the Reading Suffici ency Act.
SECTION 2. This act shall bec ome effective November 1, 2024.
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON COMMON EDUCATION, dated 02/20/2024
- DO PASS.