This bill mandates that school districts in New Jersey screen students for reading deficiencies, specifically targeting those enrolled in kindergarten through grade three, who must be assessed three times a year using an approved reading assessment. Additionally, newly-enrolled students in grades four through twelve must also be screened, and any enrolled student can be assessed at the request of their parent or guardian. The assessments are required to measure key reading skills such as phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, and to identify students who are reading below grade level or at risk of doing so.

The Department of Education is tasked with contracting at least two providers of reliable reading assessments and making these available to school districts, while also maintaining a list of approved providers. School districts can apply for a waiver to use a different assessment if it is deemed comparable. Furthermore, districts must notify parents of any identified reading deficiencies within 15 days and provide evidence-based intervention strategies. They are also required to report annually to the Department on the number of students screened and those identified with reading deficiencies. The bill is set to take effect immediately, applying to the first full school year following its enactment.