The bill amends the Strong Readers Act to revise the reading screening requirements for kindergarten students in Oklahoma. It stipulates that kindergarten students must be screened at the middle and end of the school year, with the first screening occurring no later than December. In contrast, first, second, and third-grade students will continue to be screened at the beginning, middle, and end of each school year. The State Board of Education is required to approve at least two screening instruments for kindergarten and three for grades one through three, ensuring these tools assess various reading skills and identify students at risk for reading deficiencies.

Additionally, the bill outlines the responsibilities of school districts in developing reading intervention plans for students identified with reading deficiencies, which must be created by a Student Reading Proficiency Team and include specific instructional strategies and progress monitoring. It mandates annual reporting by school districts on reading proficiency and intervention services, as well as a Strong Readers Report from the State Department of Education analyzing reading proficiency trends. The bill also requires school districts to report on intensive intervention efforts for students not reading at grade level, includes provisions for the State Department of Education to recommend improvements to the Strong Readers Act, and allows for contracting with an independent entity for reporting and analysis. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, with an emergency clause for immediate enactment upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 70-1210.508C