S0801B0898A03457 NAD:EJH 02/06/24 #90 A03457
AMENDMENTS TO SENATE BILL NO. 801
Sponsor: SENATOR AUMENT
Printer's No. 898
Amend Bill, page 1, line 5, by inserting after "thereto,""
in certification of teachers, further providing for teacher
support in the structured literacy program; and
Amend Bill, page 1, lines 7 through 9, by striking out all of
said lines and inserting
Section 1. Section 1205.8(a), (b), (c) and (g) of the act of
March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code
of 1949, added July 8, 2022 (P.L.620, No.55), are amended to
read:
Section 1205.8. [Teacher] Educator Support in the Structured
Literacy Program.--(a) (1) It is the intent of the General
Assembly that [teachers] educators be equipped to facilitate
high-quality reading instruction grounded in structured literacy
and intervention services to address student reading needs.
(2) The program provided in this section will assist
[participating] school entities in providing professional
development for [teachers] educators in foundational skills and
instructional interventions based on structured literacy and
providing opportunities for school personnel to serve as reading
coaches to support [teachers] educators in delivering high-
quality reading instruction.
(b) (1) Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, the
department shall establish a program of professional development
and applied practice in structured literacy for school personnel
that includes in-class demonstration, modeling and coaching
support to improve reading and literacy outcomes.
(2) School personnel selected by the [participating] school
entity to serve as professional coaches for this program must
have at least five years of experience in teaching of reading
and be able to demonstrate their skills in the instruction of
and intervention with students, including those with dyslexia
and other language-related disabilities.
(3) The department may contract with multiple service
providers, including school entities and institutions of higher
education with demonstrated experience in structured literacy,
to develop and implement the program so that experienced support
is available locally.
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(4) A service provider, including a school entity or
approved educator preparation program that demonstrates
successful implementation of literacy outcomes, is eligible to
provide professional development and onsite demonstration and
coaching support in the program.
(5) A [participating] school entity shall adopt high-quality
instructional materials grounded in [scientific-based reading
research] evidence-based reading instruction in accordance with
the State academic standards approved by the State Board of
Education.
(c) (1) The continuing professional education plan of each
school entity shall satisfy the continuing education
requirements of 22 Pa. Code ยง 49.17 (relating to continuing
professional education), including training in structured
literacy for professional employes who hold instructional
certificates in early childhood, elementary-middle level,
Special Education-PK-12, English as a second language and
reading specialist. To ensure that school personnel have the
knowledge and skill to teach all students to read, including
students with dyslexia and other language-based learning
disabilities, training shall address, but shall not be limited
to:
(i) Evidence-based intervention practices on structured
literacy.
(ii) Explicit and systematic instruction in phonological and
phonemic awareness.
(iii) The alphabetic principle, decoding and encoding,
fluency and vocabulary.
(iv) Reading comprehension and building content knowledge.
(2) School employes required to undergo continuing
professional education under section 1205.1, 1205.2 or 1205.5
shall receive credit toward the school employe's continuing
professional education requirements [if the training program has
been approved by the department].
* * *
(g) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Approved educator preparation program." A sequence of
courses and experiences offered by a preparing institution or
alternative provider that is reviewed and approved by the
department.
"Chief school administrator." The superintendent of a school
district, executive director of an intermediate unit,
administrative director of an area career and technical school
or chief executive officer of a charter school, cyber charter
school or regional charter school.
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Educator." As defined in section 1501-N.
"Evidence-based reading instruction." As defined in section
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1501-N.
["Participating school entity." A school entity that elects
to take part in the Structured Literacy Program.]
"School entity." A school district, intermediate unit, area
career and technical school, charter school, cyber charter
school or regional charter school.
"Structured literacy." Systemic, explicit instruction that:
(1) provides a strong core of foundational skills in the
language systems of English;
(2) integrates listening, speaking, reading, spelling and
writing; and
(3) emphasizes the structure of language across the speech
sound system, the writing system, the structure of sentences,
the meaningful parts of words, the relationship among words and
the organization of spoken and written discourse.
Section 2. The act is amended by adding an article to read:
Amend Bill, page 1, by inserting between lines 17 and 18
"Core curriculum." The curriculum for English language arts
that is adopted for tier 1 instruction to all students.
"Council." The reading leadership council required to be
established by the department under section 1502-N(a)(5).
Amend Bill, page 2, by inserting between lines 5 and 6
"Educator." An individual who has completed approved
professional development under section 1205.8 and is responsible
for providing or supervising reading instruction, intervention
or coaching, including an elementary teacher, school reading
specialist, reading interventionist, special education teacher,
literacy coach, principal or chief school administrator.
Amend Bill, page 2, line 6, by inserting after "of"
structured
Amend Bill, page 2, line 10, by inserting after "decoding,"
encoding,
Amend Bill, page 2, line 11, by inserting after "knowledge."
The instruction may not include strategies for teaching
students to read based on meaning, structure and syntax and
visual cues, which may also be known as MSV.
Amend Bill, page 2, by inserting between lines 28 and 29
"Structured literacy." The term shall have the same meaning
as provided in section 1205.8.
Amend Bill, page 3, line 1, by striking out "multitiered
system of"
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Amend Bill, page 3, line 1, by inserting after "support"
system, for example, a multitiered system of support,
Amend Bill, page 3, lines 10 through 12, by striking out "
the alphabetic" in line 10 and all of lines 11 and 12 and
inserting
understanding of the alphabetic principle, decoding
and encodi ng skills, fluency, vocabulary and
comprehension .
Amend Bill, page 3, line 16, by striking out "students" and
inserting
students' reading knowledge and skills
Amend Bill, page 3, lines 19 through 22, by striking out
"provide a process through which" in line 19 and all of lines 20
through 22 and inserting
develop a process for a vendor to submit an evidenced-
based reading instruction curriculum for review by the
department, in consultation with the council, for inclusion
on the list developed and maintained under paragraph (2).
Amend Bill, page 3, line 23, by striking out "The" and
inserting
By December 1, 2024, the
Amend Bill, page 3, line 24, by striking out "department-
approved,"
Amend Bill, page 3, lines 27 through 30; page 4, line 1; by
striking out all of said lines on said pages and inserting
(i) Be aligned with the Commonwealth's academic
standards and the science of reading.
(ii) Include a logical scope and sequence for
implementing curriculum that is systematic and
cumulative.
Amend Bill, page 4, lines 6 through 11, by striking out "The
criteria and rubric used to identify high" in line 6 and all of
lines 7 through 11 and inserting
The criteria and rubrics used to identify high-quality
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curriculum under paragraph (2) and to approve universal
reading screeners under section 1503-N(d)(1). The criteria
and rubrics must be developed in consultation with the
council.
(4) The department shall provide a process through which
a school entity can submit an application for additional
curriculum that meets the requirements under paragraph (2)
for inclusion on the list developed and maintained by the
department under paragraph (2).
Amend Bill, page 4, lines 12 and 13, by striking out "add
curricula approved under" in line 12 and all of line 13 and
inserting
establish a reading leadership council that shall advise
the department on the development and maintenance of the list
of reading instruction curricula required under paragraph
(2), the list of universal reading screeners and the list of
structured literacy intervention approaches required under
section 1503-N(d)(1). The following shall apply:
(i) The council shall have 20 members appointed by
the department who have expertise in structured literacy
and shall include public school elementary school staff,
including the following:
(A) Primary classroom teachers in kindergarten
through third grade.
(B) Reading specialists.
(C) Literacy coaches.
(D) Elementary special education teachers.
(E) A learning support employee with experience
working with subgroups as defined in the Every
Student Succeeds Act (Public Law 114-95, 129 Stat.
1802).
(ii) Membership on the council shall reflect
geographic representation of school districts, including
diversity of district types, including rural, urban and
suburban.
(iii) The council shall meet at least once every two
months at dates and times determined by the department.
(iv) In performing its work, the council may consult
with other professionals and nonprofit organizations with
expertise in structured literacy.
(6) This subsection shall expire five years from the
effective date of this paragraph.
Amend Bill, page 4, lines 14 through 17, by striking out "If
a school entity serves" in line 14 and all of lines 15 through
17 and inserting
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A school entity shall do all of the following beginning with
the 2025-2026 school year:
Amend Bill, page 4, line 19, by striking out "from the list
under subsection (a)"
Amend Bill, page 4, line 20, by striking out "education" and
inserting
development
Amend Bill, page 4, line 23, by striking out "individual" and
inserting
educator
Amend Bill, page 4, lines 26 through 30; page 5, lines 1
through 8; by striking out all of said lines on said pages and
inserting
(4) Demonstrate that each educator responsible for
providing reading instruction or coaching is in the process
of completing approved professional development under
paragraph (2). An educator must complete approved
professional development under paragraph (2) no later than
the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year.
Amend Bill, page 5, line 10, by striking out "2024" and
inserting
2025
Amend Bill, page 5, lines 12 through 18, by striking out all
of said lines and inserting
for reading competency three times each school year, once at
the beginning of the school year, once during the middle of the
school year and once at the end of the school year. In
conducting the screening, the school entity shall use a
universal reading screener chosen from the list of approved
universal reading screeners under subsection (d).
Amend Bill, page 5, lines 19 through 26, by striking out "A
school entity shall provide:" in line 19 and all of lines 20
through 26 and inserting
A school entity shall provide educators time during the
contractual school day to complete data entry and compilation
associated with the screener, to communicate with families
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and carry out any other responsibility required under this
section. Nothing in this article shall be construed to
supersede or preempt the rights, remedies and procedures
afforded to school employees or labor organizations under
Federal or State law or any provision of a collective
bargaining agreement negotiated between a school employer and
an exclusive representative of the employees in accordance
with the act of July 23, 1970 (P.L.563, No.195), known as the
Public Employe Relations Act.
Amend Bill, page 5, lines 29 and 30; page 6, lines 1 and 2;
by striking out all of lines 29 and 30 on page 5, all of line 1
and "(2)" in line 2 on page 6 and inserting
(1)
Amend Bill, page 6, line 4, by striking out "plan" and
inserting
program
Amend Bill, page 6, line 5, by striking out "(3)" and
inserting
(2)
Amend Bill, page 6, lines 10 through 13, by striking out
"evidence-based" in line 10, all of lines 11 and 12 and
"teachers and elementary special education teachers," in line 13
and inserting
the council,
Amend Bill, page 6, line 16, by inserting after "of"
structured
Amend Bill, page 6, line 18, by inserting after "decoding,"
encoding,
Amend Bill, page 6, line 20, by striking out "2023" and
inserting
2024
Amend Bill, page 7, lines 3 through 15, by striking out all
of lines 3 through 14 and "(4)" in line 15 and inserting
(3)
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Amend Bill, page 7, line 15, by striking out "learning" and
inserting
development
Amend Bill, page 7, lines 22 and 23, by striking out
"identifies the student at risk for reading failure under
section 1503-N" and inserting
administered under section 1503-N identifies the student at
risk for reading failure
Amend Bill, page 7, lines 27 through 29, by striking out "the
threshold level on an approved" in line 27 and all of lines 28
and 29 and inserting
an identified threshold level using at least three data
points, which may include results on a universal reading
screener, the educator's professional judgment on a student's
performance, progress monitoring outcomes, diagnostic
assessments, benchmark assessments and formative or summative
assessments.
Amend Bill, page 8, line 2, by striking out "having a reading
deficiency" and inserting
being in need of reading interventions
Amend Bill, page 8, line 8, by striking out "to ensure" and
inserting
with the goal of ensuring
Amend Bill, page 8, lines 11 and 12, by striking out "the
teacher, principal or other professional employee who has
specialized training in reading intervention" and inserting
an educator
Amend Bill, page 8, lines 13 and 14, by striking out "be
provided in addition to core reading instruction that " and
inserting
, at a minimum, include reading intervention approaches and
be provided in addition to what
Amend Bill, page 8, lines 16 through 26, by striking out "The
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reading intervention plan shall:" in line 16 and all of lines 17
through 26
Amend Bill, page 8, line 30; page 9, lines 1 through 20; by
striking out "no later than" in line 30 on page 8 and all of
lines 1 through 20 on page 9 and inserting
after the identification of the reading deficiency ,
including periodic updates three times per year regarding the
student's progress.
Amend Bill, page 9, line 29, by striking out "filed" and
inserting
submitted
Amend Bill, page 10, line 11, by striking out "2024" and
inserting
2025
Amend Bill, page 10, line 17, by striking out "pursuant to
the screening" and inserting
at the beginning of the school year pursuant to the
first screening of the school year
Amend Bill, page 10, lines 20 through 28, by striking out all
of said lines and inserting
(2) The number and percentage of students, disaggregated
by grade and by individual school, identified with a
potential reading deficiency, including characteristics of
dyslexia, at the end of the school year pursuant to the final
screening of the school year required under section 1503-N.
(3) The evidence-based reading instruction curricula
adopted by each school entity under this article.
(4) The number of educators in the school entity who
have received professional development under section 1502-
N(b)(2) and the type of professional development received.
Amend Bill, page 10, line 29, by striking out "2024" and
inserting
2025
Amend Bill, page 11, lines 1 through 16, by striking out "all
of the following:" in line 1 and all of lines 2 through 16 and
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inserting
the information reported to the department under
subsection (a).
(c) Report data.--Data included in the report shall be de-
identified and comply with the Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act of 1974 (Public Law 90-247, 20 U.S.C. ยง 1232g).
Amend Bill, page 11, line 17, by striking out "(c)" and
inserting
(d)
Amend Bill, page 11, lines 23 and 24, by striking out all of
line 23 and "(4)" in line 24 and inserting
(3)
Amend Bill, page 11, line 25, by striking out "(5)" and
inserting
(4)
Amend Bill, page 11, line 26, by striking out "(6)" and
inserting
(5)
Amend Bill, page 11, line 28, by striking out "(7)" and
inserting
(6)
Amend Bill, page 11, line 30, by striking out "60" and
inserting
90
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