LB1252 LB1252
2024 2024
LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA
ONE HUNDRED EIGHTH LEGISLATURE
SECOND SESSION
LEGISLATIVE BILL 1252
Introduced by Linehan, 39.
Read first time January 16, 2024
Committee: Education
1 A BILL FOR AN ACT relating to education; to amend section 79-2607,
2 Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement, 2022; to change provisions
3 relating to the Nebraska Reading Improvement Act; to provide powers
4 and duties to the State Department of Education and the Commissioner
5 of Education related to the creation and support of a professional
6 learning system and regional coaches related to instruction in
7 reading; to require that teachers who teach students in grades
8 kindergarten through third grade at an approved or accredited school
9 receive certain training related to instruction in reading; to state
10 intent regarding appropriations; and to repeal the original section.
11 Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska,
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1 Section 1. Section 79-2607, Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement,
2 2022, is amended to read:
3 79-2607 (1) For purposes of this section:
4 (a) Evidence-based reading instruction means instruction in reading
5 that is in alignment with scientifically based reading research and does
6 not include the three-cueing system model of reading instruction; and
7 (b) Three-cueing system model of reading instruction is an approach
8 to foundational skills instruction that involves the use of three
9 different types of instructional cues which include semantic, syntactic,
10 and grapho-phonic.
11 (2)(a) The State Department of Education shall develop and implement
12 a professional learning system to help provide sustained professional
13 learning and training regarding evidence-based reading instruction for
14 teachers who teach students in kindergarten through third grade at an
15 approved or accredited school and teachers employed by an early childhood
16 education program approved by the State Board of Education. The
17 professional learning system shall include information and tips for
18 teachers related to helping students and families work with local family
19 literacy centers to strengthen home and family literacy programs and
20 better instruct students in reading.
21 (b) Approved or accredited elementary schools shall ensure that
22 teachers who teach students in kindergarten through third grade are aware
23 of the professional learning system and are adequately trained regarding
24 evidence-based reading instruction to effectively instruct students in
25 reading.
26 (3)(a) The State Department of Education shall work with educational
27 service units to enable them to provide to approved or accredited
28 elementary schools regional coaches who are equipped to provide
29 assistance and job-embedded training regarding evidence-based reading
30 instruction to teachers who teach students in kindergarten through third
31 grade. Such regional coaches shall be deployed in a manner that enables
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1 the coaches to spend a majority of the time at schools and in classrooms
2 with the greatest need for improvement in reading based upon the
3 accountability system established by the State Board of Education
4 pursuant to section 79-760.06.
5 (b) The State Department of Education shall, as practicable, explore
6 partnerships with postsecondary educational institutions relating to (i)
7 the development of the professional learning system pursuant to
8 subsection (2) of this section and (ii) training for teachers who
9 instruct students in kindergarten through third grade in reading
10 regarding evidence-based reading instruction and the science of reading.
11 (4) On or before September 30 of each year, the Commissioner of
12 Education shall file a report electronically with the Clerk of the
13 Legislature relating to the status and use of the professional learning
14 system implemented pursuant to this section.
15 (5) It is the intent of the Legislature to appropriate ten million
16 dollars from the General Fund for FY2024-25 and each fiscal year
17 thereafter to the State Department of Education to provide regional
18 coaches and training regarding evidence-based reading instruction
19 pursuant to subsection (2) or (3) of this section.
20 (6) (1) The State Department of Education may provide technical
21 assistance as needed to assist school boards in carrying out the Nebraska
22 Reading Improvement Act.
23 (7) (2) The department may adopt and promulgate rules and
24 regulations to carry out the act.
25 Sec. 2. Original section 79-2607, Revised Statutes Cumulative
26 Supplement, 2022, is repealed.
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Statutes affected: Introduced: 79-2607