LB1254 LB1254
2024 2024
LEGISLATURE OF NEBRASKA
ONE HUNDRED EIGHTH LEGISLATURE
SECOND SESSION
LEGISLATIVE BILL 1254
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)(a) The State Department of Education shall develop and
4 implement a professional learning system to help provide sustained
5 professional learning and training in high quality instruction in reading
6 for teachers who teach students in kindergarten through third grade at an
7 approved or accredited school and teachers employed by an early childhood
8 education program approved by the State Board of Education. The
9 professional learning system shall include information and tips for
10 teachers related to helping students and families work with local family
11 literacy centers to strengthen home and family literacy programs and
12 better instruct students in reading.
13 (b) Approved or accredited elementary schools shall ensure that
14 teachers who teach students in kindergarten through third grade are aware
15 of the professional learning system and are adequately trained to
16 effectively instruct students in reading.
17 (2) The State Department of Education shall work with educational
18 service units to provide regional coaches to approved or accredited
19 elementary schools to provide assistance and job-embedded training
20 relating to instruction in reading to teachers who teach students in
21 kindergarten through third grade.
22 (3) On or before September 30 of each year, the Commissioner of
23 Education shall file a report electronically with the Clerk of the
24 Legislature relating to the status and use of the professional learning
25 system implemented pursuant to this section.
26 (4) It is the intent of the Legislature to appropriate ten million
27 dollars from the General Fund for FY2024-25 and each fiscal year
28 thereafter to the State Department of Education to provide regional
29 coaches and training relating to instruction in reading pursuant to
30 subsection (1) or (2) of this section.
31 (5) (1) The State Department of Education may provide technical
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1 assistance as needed to assist school boards in carrying out the Nebraska
2 Reading Improvement Act.
3 (6) (2) The department may adopt and promulgate rules and
4 regulations to carry out the act.
5 Sec. 2. Original section 79-2607, Revised Statutes Cumulative
6 Supplement, 2022, is repealed.
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Statutes affected:
Introduced: 79-2607