NY A04595

Requires the Commissioner of Education to establish standards for early education programs for 4-5 year olds that meet Head Start Program Performance Standards, with teachers holding valid NY certificates and completing early childhood education coursework

Creates a statewide "Parents as Teachers" program for children under 5, providing evidence-based early childhood education that involves parents, enhances school readiness, and increases identification of health problems and developmental delays through regular screenings

Establishes a reading program targeting the lowest-performing 25% of schools serving K-3 students, deploying state-employed reading specialists to model instruction, coach teachers, and lead reading intervention services

Mandates a statewide screening tool for K-3 students administered three times yearly (fall, winter, spring) to identify reading deficiencies including characteristics of dyslexia, evaluating phonemic awareness, fluency, and vocabulary

Requires school districts to provide intensive reading intervention services and individual reading improvement plans for K-3 students with reading deficiencies, with grade 3 students needing to demonstrate sufficient reading skills to advance to grade 4 or receive 20 additional hours of summer intervention if parents sign a waiver