House Bill No. 201 aims to expand student eligibility for the R.E.A.D. (Reading Enrichment and Academic Deliverables) program by including all 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 require the state Department of Education (DOE) to facilitate the quarterly shipment of books directly to these schools, ensuring that students in prekindergarten through fifth grade receive not only books but also supplemental family literacy resources to support at-home reading engagement.

In addition to expanding eligibility, the bill mandates that the DOE determine the specific content and format of the family literacy resources provided. The proposed changes include the insertion of new eligibility criteria and administrative responsibilities for the DOE, while retaining the existing criteria for program participation. This legislative effort seeks to enhance literacy support for students in underperforming schools, thereby promoting academic improvement and engagement in reading.

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