The bill amends the Public School Code of 1949 to establish an after-school reading program aimed at improving literacy among students in kindergarten through grade two. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, school entities will have the option to create after-school or summer peer tutoring programs that utilize teen leaders from the community to provide one-on-one structured literacy tutoring. The program will employ an evidence-based phonics curriculum and will require guidance from the Department of Education, which must be developed by December 31, 2025. The program will include specific principles such as one-to-one tutoring, training for teen leaders and teachers, and a structured schedule of sessions.

Additionally, beginning September 1, 2027, school entities that implement the program will be required to submit annual reports detailing the number of students served, teen leaders trained, and assessment data on reading proficiency. The bill allows for the use of federal, state, or private funding to support the program, with a focus on prioritizing resources for schools with a high percentage of students not meeting reading benchmarks. The bill also defines key terms related to the program, including "decoding strategy," "evidence-based phonics curriculum," and "teen leader."

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 1910 (Jun 11, 2025): P.L.30, No.14