General Assembly Raised Bill No. 220 is designed to improve literacy among students in grades four to nine who are struggling with reading. The bill mandates local and regional boards of education to create individualized reading plans for students who score at level 1 or 2 on the English Language Arts mastery examination or fail to meet their growth targets. These plans must be based on approved assessments, identify specific reading deficiencies, outline instructional interventions, and involve a school literacy team. Additionally, the bill emphasizes parental involvement in supporting literacy at home. It also introduces a competitive grant program for high-dosage literacy tutoring, prioritizing alliance districts, and updates reading assessment requirements for students in kindergarten to grade three, ensuring assessments are conducted at least three times a year.

Moreover, the bill requires the Department of Education to collaborate with the Center for Literacy Research and Reading Success to develop guidance for implementing multitiered support systems for struggling readers, with a report due to the General Assembly by January 1, 2028. The Commissioner of Education is tasked with working alongside the Office of Higher Education to implement the Connecticut Educator Competencies for Structured Literacy and Dyslexia, and to explore options for an early literacy microcredential for certified teachers by July 1, 2027. The bill also mandates tracking of reading assessment usage while ensuring that student data remains nonidentifiable. The legislation is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and includes amendments to existing education statutes.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 10-14t