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 require the state Department of Education (DOE) to facilitate the quarterly shipment of books directly to these schools. Additionally, it mandates that the schools distribute these books and supplemental family literacy resources to students in prekindergarten through fifth grade.

The proposed changes include the addition of new eligibility criteria for the R.E.A.D. program, allowing students who meet any of the existing criteria or are enrolled in underperforming schools to participate. The DOE is tasked with determining the specific content and format of the family literacy resources to support at-home reading engagement. This initiative aims to enhance literacy among students in schools that may be struggling academically, thereby promoting educational equity and support for families.

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