SCS/SB 425 - This act provides grant funding to school districts or school buildings for reading assessment and intervention.

School districts with a more than 50% of 3rd graders performing at low levels shall redirect state remedial reading funds to intensive reading programs in grades K-3, unless the redirection would result in a loss of federal funding.

The State Board of Education shall develop recommending reading assessments for grades K through three, based on demonstrated effectiveness of research-based methods. The list shall be a guide for school districts, and school districts are not required to use assessments on the State Board's list.

School districts may adopt a policy which prohibits social promotion and requires remediation prior to promoting grade level. This may include mandatory summer school. Remediation outside regular school hours shall count towards attendance used to determine state aid.

Students scoring at the lowest level on any assessment must retake the assessment the next year, including special education students if retesting is in accordance with the student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The school district shall report aggregate progress of all such students.

The State Board shall establish a measure of the effectiveness of the remediation program, which shall focus on student scoring at the lowest level and shall make allowances for students who are new to the district.

Similar provisions are included in the perfected version of SS/SCS/SBs 347 et al.
OTTO FAJEN