SB 1348 Summary

• Amends Oklahoma's Reading Sufficiency Act (70 O.S. 2011, Section 1210.508C) to modify good-cause exemptions allowing third-grade students with reading deficiencies to be promoted without mandatory retention.

• Expands the limited-English-proficient/English language learner exemption to require students have a language instruction educational plan and demonstrate adequate growth (minimum 0.5% increase on proficiency level or 21 scale score points on English language proficiency assessment) before being eligible for promotion.

• Maintains five other good-cause exemptions for promotion: students with disabilities using alternate assessment standards, students demonstrating acceptable performance on alternative standardized reading assessments, students showing grade-level mastery through portfolio review, students with disabilities receiving intensive remediation for 2+ years, and students receiving intensive reading instruction for 2+ years with prior retention.

• Becomes effective July 1, 2014, with emergency clause allowing immediate implementation upon passage and approval.