House Bill No. 802, introduced by Representative Wyble, seeks to improve student literacy in Louisiana by amending existing laws and establishing new requirements for teacher education programs and public schools. The bill mandates that teacher education programs for those seeking certification to teach kindergarten through third grade include instruction on foundational literacy skills, while also requiring special education and secondary education programs to focus on adolescent literacy skills. Additionally, the bill outlines a framework for high-dosage tutoring and delineates the responsibilities of the state Department of Education and public school governing authorities in implementing these literacy initiatives.

The legislation also repeals certain provisions related to individual reading plans and introduces new requirements for public schools to conduct annual reviews of these plans, ensuring effective evaluation and updates of interventions and support. It emphasizes parental notification regarding students' reading deficiencies and the development of individualized reading improvement plans. Furthermore, the bill mandates the State Department of Education to create an adolescent literacy program, administer reading assessments, and provide professional development for teachers. Schools are required to ensure instructional materials meet quality criteria and develop an adolescent literacy skills plan, with implementation set to begin in the 2027-2028 school year.

Statutes affected:
HB316 Original: 17:10(K), 17:9(C)
HB316 Engrossed: 17:10(K), 17:9(C)