By the beginning of the 2023-24 school year and continuing
thereafter, the bill requires each school district, board of cooperative services, and charter school (local education provider) to ensure that the principal in a school that serves kindergarten or any of grades one through 3 and each school district administrator with responsibility that pertains to programs in kindergarten or any of grades one through 3 to
successfully complete evidence-based training in the science of reading. The local education provider may request a one-year extension from the state board of education to ensure that the teachers, principals, and administrators whom it employs meet the training requirements. Each local education provider must submit to the department of education (department) evidence that it is in compliance with the principal and administrator training requirements to receive per-pupil intervention money in a budget year.
The bill requires the board of trustees for each public library to
adopt a policy by January 1, 2023, to support parents and children in improving literacy through the science of reading. The policy must include a requirement that:
•
Each librarian successfully complete evidence-based training in the science of reading;
•
The director of the board of trustees maintain an accurate list on the library website of the librarians who successfully complete the training; and
•
The director of the board of trustees identify materials and activities for parents and children to improve literacy and ensure that the materials and activities are available in the public library and are updated monthly.
Upon request of a local education provider or the board of trustees
of a public library, the department shall provide training in the science of reading to principals and administrators of the local education provider and librarians of the public library for free.
The bill directs the state librarian to work with public libraries
throughout the state to facilitate access to evidence-based training in the science of reading for librarians and assist in identifying materials and activities for parents and children to improve literacy.
