Bill Text: FL S0976 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

Florida Senate Bill 976 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Public School Students/Grades 1-3/Reading [SPSC]

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2010-04-30 - Died in Committee on Education Pre-K - 12 [S0976 Detail]

Download: Florida-2010-S0976-Introduced.html

 
Florida Senate - 2010                                     SB 976 
 
By Senator Wilson 
33-00949-10                                            2010976__ 
1                        A bill to be entitled 
2         An act relating to teaching students in grades 1 
3         through 3 in public elementary schools; creating s. 
4         1008.26, F.S.; requiring that certain students who are 
5         enrolled in a public elementary school and reading 
6         below grade level be placed into an intensive reading 
7         lab; specifying criteria for an intensive reading lab; 
8         providing for oversight of the progress of students 
9         assigned to a reading lab; encouraging the principal 
10         of a school where reading labs are required to solicit 
11         donations to secure instructional materials; requiring 
12         that the principal of a public school where students 
13         in grades 1 through 3 are enrolled in a reading lab to 
14         create, by hiring or training, a team of teachers 
15         having expertise in specified areas; specifying 
16         requirements for training teachers to teach reading; 
17         requiring that the principal assign teachers on the 
18         team for a specified time to classes of students in 
19         grades 1 through 3; providing an effective date. 
20 
21  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 
22 
23         Section 1. Section 1008.26, Florida Statutes, is created to 
24  read: 
25         1008.26 Reading at grade level by grade 4.— 
26         (1) Each student who is entering kindergarten, first grade, 
27  second grade, or third grade must be assessed as to his or her 
28  proficiency in the subject of reading as defined by the Sunshine 
29  State Standards. Each student who is reading below grade level 
30  must be placed into an intensive reading lab that: 
31         (a) Has a student-teacher ratio of not more than five 
32  students per one full-time equivalent teacher. 
33         (b) Is staffed at all times by a teacher who is certified 
34  under s. 1012.56 and has expertise in the area of teaching 
35  reading skills to students in kindergarten through grade 3. 
36         (c) Provides the student, for 2 hours each school day, with 
37  tutoring and remediation so that the student learns to read at 
38  grade level. 
39         (2) Each student who is assigned to an intensive reading 
40  lab must be reassessed in the middle and at the end of each 
41  school year and, if the student is reading at or above his or 
42  her grade level, the student’s assignment to the intensive 
43  reading lab shall be terminated. 
44         (3) The principal of each public school where an intensive 
45  reading lab is required under subsection (1) is encouraged to 
46  solicit, particularly from persons who qualify for an income tax 
47  deduction or credit under federal tax law, the donation of funds 
48  for purchasing instructional materials for use by students 
49  assigned to the lab, including books or computer technology or 
50  software, or the donation of such materials. 
51         (4)(a) The principal of each public school in which 
52  students in grades 1 through 3 are enrolled shall, by hiring 
53  teachers or securing training for teachers already hired, create 
54  a team of teachers for grades 1 through 3 which includes a 
55  nearly equal distribution of teachers having expertise in each 
56  of the following areas: 
57         1. Teaching reading to students in grades 1 through 3. At 
58  least one-third of the team must have this expertise. 
59         2. Teaching science and math to students in grades 1 
60  through 3. 
61         3. Teaching social science to students in grades 1 through 
62  3. 
63 
64  If training is necessary for a teacher to develop expertise in 
65  the area of teaching reading to students in grades 1 through 3, 
66  the training must be provided outside the regular school day. 
67         (b) After July 1, 2012, the principal shall assign teachers 
68  so that during each school day at least one teacher in each of 
69  the areas of expertise described in paragraph (a) teaches for a 
70  minimum of 2 hours in the classroom of each student enrolled in 
71  grades 1 through 3. Before July 1, 2012, the principal is 
72  encouraged to make such assignments. 
73         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.