AR SB349

Beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, the Department of Education shall provide Level 3 (Coordinated support) to school districts where 40% or more of students score "in need of support" on the state's prior year summative reading assessment, delivered in collaboration with educational service cooperatives.

School districts where 50% or more of students score "in need of support" on the state's prior year summative reading assessment shall receive Level 4 (Directed support).

School districts with 40% or more students scoring "in need of support" in reading must develop a literacy plan as part of their district support plan, including reading achievement goals and information on funding prioritization (including national school lunch categorical funds) for reading improvement strategies.

The list of approved programs for national school lunch state categorical fund expenditures established by the state board before this act's passage shall expire on June 30, 2022.

The bill establishes legislative findings that $2.686 billion in national school lunch funds have been sent to Arkansas schools since 2005, with 34% of students in grades 3-10 scoring at the lowest performance level on ACT Aspire reading assessments.