Bill Summary: HB 5380 - School Literacy

• Expands intensive reading instruction program to include kindergarten through grade five (previously grades K-3) for alliance districts, effective July 1, 2020.

• Establishes Center for Literacy Research and Reading Success within Department of Education to coordinate statewide reading initiatives, provide coaching and professional development, and support schools in improving reading outcomes.

• Requires reading assessments measuring phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension with frequent progress monitoring and ability to identify students at risk for dyslexia or other reading-related learning disabilities.

• Mandates intensive reading instruction programs include reading interventionists, external literacy coaches, supplemental instruction, remediation plans, and summer school reading programs for students reading below proficiency.

• Creates working group by effective date to study whether teacher preparation programs adequately teach science-based reading instruction and report recommendations by January 1, 2022.