AR SB502

Creates the "Right to Read Act" requiring elementary education teachers and those seeking licensure by reciprocity or endorsement to demonstrate proficient knowledge of scientific reading instruction by no later than 2023.

Requires all other licensed teachers to demonstrate awareness of scientific reading instruction best practices by 2023, with educator preparation programs posting information about their reading instruction programs on their websites by the 2022-2023 school year.

Mandates public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to provide professional development in scientific reading instruction beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, with elementary teachers pursuing proficiency credentials and other teachers pursuing awareness credentials.

Requires all elementary education and special education teachers to demonstrate proficiency in scientific reading instruction by the 2021-2022 school year, with all other teachers demonstrating awareness; new teachers hired from 2021-2022 onward must complete the credential within one year or as a licensure condition.

Subjects school districts that violate the section to probationary status and parent notification, and allows the Department of Education to revoke the approval status of educator preparation program providers that fail to comply; the department is authorized to enforce the section through promulgated rules.