House Bill No. 201 aims to expand student eligibility for the R.E.A.D. (Reading Enrichment and Academic Deliverables) program by including students enrolled in elementary schools that received a performance letter grade of "D" or "F" in the most recent school year. The bill amends existing law to allow these students to participate in the program alongside those who already qualify based on specific literacy assessments. Additionally, the bill mandates the state Department of Education (DOE) to facilitate the quarterly shipment of books directly to these schools and requires the schools to distribute the books and supplemental family literacy resources to students in prekindergarten through fifth grade.

The proposed law also stipulates that the DOE will determine the specific content and format of the family literacy resources provided to support at-home reading engagement. This initiative is designed to enhance literacy among students in underperforming schools and ensure that they have access to necessary reading materials. The bill reflects a commitment to improving educational outcomes for students in Louisiana by addressing the needs of those in lower-performing schools.

Statutes affected:
HB201 Original: 17:1(B)
HB201 Engrossed: 17:1(B)