SB19-199 Summary

• Establishes that evidence-based reading instruction focused on five foundational skills (phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary development, reading fluency including oral skills, and reading comprehension) is a significant component of Colorado's public school system.

• Requires local education providers to use multi-tiered systems of supports or comparable intervention systems and to provide daily literacy blocks for students with reading deficiencies or below grade-level reading; requires teachers of kindergarten through third grade to complete evidence-based training in teaching reading by the 2021-22 school year.

• Creates new per-pupil intervention money distribution system (replacing previous framework) with specific uses including summer literacy programs, core reading instructional programs, tutoring services, intervention services, educational technology, and professional development programs including literacy coaches.

• Mandates the Department of Education to develop advisory lists of approved reading assessments, instructional programming, and professional development programs; requires an independent evaluator to assess implementation and student outcomes beginning in October 2019 with results reported by July 2021.

• Appropriates $26.3 million for the 2019-20 fiscal year to implement the program, including funding for teacher training, grant programs, public awareness campaigns, and evaluation services.