Bill Text: NJ S2644 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires school districts to implement reading intervention program for students in certain grades as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in English Language Arts.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-08 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee [S2644 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-S2644-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex and Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Requires school districts to implement reading intervention program for students in certain grades as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in English Language Arts.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning early literacy and supplementing chapter 35 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
"Multi-tiered system of supports" means a systemic approach that addresses the academic and social-emotional needs of all students at various levels of intensity. Through the multi-tiered system of supports, a teacher shall provide high-quality, scientifically-based or evidence-based instruction and intervention that is matched to student needs.
"Reading deficiency" means scoring below grade level or being determined to be at risk of scoring below grade level based on a screening assessment.
b. A school district shall offer a reading intervention program to students in grades kindergarten through three as part of the district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in English Language Arts. The program shall be offered to a student who exhibits a reading deficiency as determined by a Commissioner of Education-approved assessment.
c. The reading intervention program shall:
(1) utilize a data-driven multi-tiered system of supports;
(2) provide explicit and systemic instruction in phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, as applicable;
(3) monitor the progress of a student's reading skills throughout the school year; and
(4) be adjusted throughout the year, if necessary, according to student needs.
d. School districts shall adopt high-quality instructional materials grounded in scientifically based reading research to implement the program. The Department of Education shall provide school districts with age-appropriate materials designed to implement the provisions of this subsection.
e. The department shall develop and implement a process to evaluate the reading intervention program required pursuant to subsection b. of this section.
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires that a school district offer a reading intervention program to students in grades kindergarten through three. The reading intervention program is to: (1) utilize a data-driven multi-tiered system of supports; (2) provide explicit and systemic instruction in phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, as applicable; (3) monitor the progress of a student's reading skills throughout the school year; and (4) be adjusted throughout the year, if necessary, according to student needs.
The bill also requires the department to provide school districts with age-appropriate materials designed to implement the program. Under the bill, school districts are required to adopt high-quality instructional materials grounded in scientifically-based reading research to implement the program. The department is to provide school districts with age-appropriate materials designed to implement the provisions of this subsection.
The bill also requires the department to develop and implement a process to evaluate the reading intervention program required under the bill.
