AR SB153

Public schools and open-enrollment charter schools must include a literacy plan in their annual school-level improvement plans, with curriculum and professional development based on the science of reading by May 1, 2019.

Beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, school districts must provide professional development in scientific reading instruction to elementary teachers (K-6), special education teachers (K-12), and reading specialists (K-12) through prescribed pathways to obtain proficiency credentials.

By the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, the Department of Education must create an approved list of curriculum programs, materials, and resources supported by the science of reading, including dyslexia programs aligned to structured literacy or Orton-Gillingham methodology.

Beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, school districts and charter schools must purchase curriculum programs from the department's approved list, or submit alternative programs with rationale and evidence-based research for departmental approval.

Schools that fail to provide required professional development beginning in the 2020-2021 school year or that employ educators in violation of this section may be placed in probationary status and must notify parents of the deficiency.