STATE OF OKLAHOMA

2nd Session of the 54th Legislature (2014)

HOUSE BILL 3423	By:	Shelton

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to schools; amending 70 O.S. 2011, Section 1210.508B, which relates to the Reading Sufficiency Act; clarifying statutory language; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     70 O.S. 2011, Section 1210.508B, is amended to read as follows:
Section 1210.508B  A.  The Legislature finds that it is essential for children in the public schools to read early and well in elementary school.  The Legislature further finds that clear and visible goals, assessments to determine the reading level at each elementary school, annual measurements of elementary school reading improvement, and accountability in each level of the educational system will result in a significant increase in the number of children reading at or above grade level.
B.  The purpose of the Reading Sufficiency Act is to ensure that each child attains the necessary reading skills by completion of the third grade which will enable that student to continue development of reading skills and to succeed throughout school and life.
C.  Each public school district in this state shall ensure that a majority of the instructional time each day of the school year in kindergarten through third grade is focused on reading and mathematics.  The State Board of Education shall encourage school districts to integrate the teaching of the other curricular areas in the Priority Academic Student Skills (PASS) adopted by the Board with the instruction of reading and mathematics.  All teachers of reading in the public schools in this state in kindergarten through third grade shall incorporate into instruction the five elements of reading instruction which are phonemic awareness, phonics, reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
D.  The reading goal for Oklahoma public schools is as follows:  By July 1, 2008, and each year thereafter, all third-grade students will read at or above grade level by the end of their third-grade year, excluding up to fifteen percent (15%) of those students who have an individualized education program (IEP), pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and excluding those students who are English language learners who have been determined not to be proficient in English as defined by a state-designated English proficiency assessment.  To achieve the reading goal, each public elementary school shall:
1.  Determine its baseline no later than September 1, 2005, which shall be the percentage of students reading at or above third-grade level as determined by the percentage of students scoring proficient or above on the third-grade criterion-referenced test in reading, administered pursuant to Section 1210.508 of this title; and
2.  Set and achieve annual improvement goals necessary to progress from the baseline established in 2005 to the reading goal by July 1, 2008.  The annual improvement goals shall be included in the district's reading sufficiency plan for the school district required in Section 1210.508C of this title.
E.  The State Board of Education shall recognize schools and school districts that attain or make progress toward achieving the reading goal and shall provide technical assistance to schools and school districts that do not make progress toward the reading goal.  The school district reading sufficiency plan shall be submitted to the State Board if the school district has any schools that are not achieving the required annual improvement goals pursuant to this section.
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2014.

54-2-8489	KB	01/07/14