Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

BILL AS INTRODUCED                                                       S.303
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                                       S.303
 Introduced by Committee on Education
 Date:
 Subject: Education; Agency of Education; literacy; Vermont Imagination
          Library; libraries
 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require
 licensed Vermont educators to complete a program of professional learning on
 evidence-based literacy instruction, require the Agency of Education to
 conduct a review of educator preparation programs to strengthen educator
 preparation programs’ teaching of evidence-based literacy practices, and to
 extend the existence of the Advisory Council on Literacy to 2027. This bill
 also proposes to establish the Vermont Imagination Library for a three-year
 pilot period and to direct the Agency of Education to cooperate with the Dolly
 Parton Imagination Library to provide free books to Vermont children from
 birth to five years of age.
    An act relating to supporting Vermont’s young readers
 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
                               * * * Literacy * * *
 Sec. 1. FINDINGS
    The General Assembly finds that:
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       (1) Literacy, particularly in early grades, is critical for success in future
 education, work, and life.
       (2) Roughly half of Vermont students are still at or below proficiency.
       (3) Research in recent years is clear. We know how to teach reading in
 a proven, evidence-based manner. Yet outdated practices linger in classrooms
 and in educator preparation programs.
 Sec. 2. 16 V.S.A. § 1710 is added to read:
 § 1710. MANDATORY COMPLETION OF LITERACY MODULES
    (a) On or before January 1, 2025, all currently licensed Vermont educators
 employed in a Vermont school shall complete a program of professional
 learning on evidence-based literacy instruction developed and offered by the
 Vermont Agency of Education.
    (b) After January 1, 2025, all new licensed Vermont educators employed in
 a Vermont school shall complete a program of professional learning on
 evidenced-based literacy instruction developed and offered by the Vermont
 Agency of Education within the educator’s second year of teaching.
    (c) Vermont public and approved independent schools shall collect and
 maintain on file a record of program completion.
    (d) Educators shall provide evidence of program completion upon the
 educator’s next license renewal.
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 Sec. 3. 16 V.S.A. § 1711 is added to read:
 § 1711. RESULTS ORIENTED PROGRAM APPROVAL
    (a) On or before January 1, 2025, the Agency of Education shall conduct a
 review of the Results Oriented Program Approval (ROPA) program to
 strengthen educator preparation programs’ teaching of evidence-based literacy
 practices.
    (b) On or before January 1, 2025, Vermont educator preparation programs
 shall certify that they comply with the updated requirements.
    (c) The Agency may adopt rules on the ROPA pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter
 25 as necessary to enforce this section.
    (d) On or before January 1, 2025, the Agency shall develop and make
 available a model examination for use by educator preparation programs to test
 a candidate’s skills in mathematics and English language arts fundamentals
 and the candidate’s understanding of the importance of evidence-based
 approaches to literacy and numeracy.
    (e) On or before January 1, 2025, educator preparation programs shall
 incorporate the examination developed pursuant to subsection (d) of this
 section into their program curriculum.
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 Sec. 4. TRANSFER OF RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; TRANSFER OF
         RULES
    (a) The statutory authority to adopt rules by the Standards Board for
 Professional Educators pertaining to the licensing of educators and preparation
 of educational professionals adopted under 16 V.S.A. § 1694 and 3 V.S.A.
 chapter 25 is transferred from the Standards Board for Professional Educators
 to the Agency of Education.
    (b) All rules pertaining to the licensing of educators and preparation of
 educational professionals adopted by the Standards Board for Professional
 Educators under 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 prior to January 1, 2024 shall be deemed
 the rules of the Agency of Education and remain in effect until amended or
 repealed by the Agency pursuant to 3 V.S.A chapter 25.
    (c) The Agency of Education shall provide notice of the transfer to the
 Secretary of State and the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules in
 accordance with 3 V.S.A. § 848(d)(2).
 Sec. 5. 16 V.S.A. § 1694 is amended to read:
 § 1694. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE STANDARDS BOARD FOR
         PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS
    In addition to any other powers and duties prescribed by law or incidental or
 necessary to the exercise of such lawful powers and duties, the Standards
 Board shall:
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       (1)(A) Adopt rules pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 with respect to the
 licensing of teachers and administrators, and of speech-language pathologists
 and audiologists as provided in 26 V.S.A. chapter 87. [Repealed.]
                                      ***
 Sec. 6. 16 V.S.A. § 1694a is added to read:
 § 1694a. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
    The Agency of Education shall adopt rules pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter 25
 with respect to the licensing of teachers and administrators, and of speech-
 language pathologists and audiologists as provided in 26 V.S.A. chapter 87.
 Sec. 7. REPEAL
    16 V.S.A. § 1695 (review of licensing standards) is repealed.
 Sec. 8. 16 V.S.A. § 2903a is amended to read:
 § 2903a. ADVISORY COUNCIL ON LITERACY
    (a) Creation. There is created the Advisory Council on Literacy. The
 Council shall advise the Agency of Education, the State Board of Education,
 and the General Assembly on how to improve proficiency outcomes in literacy
 for students in prekindergarten through grade 12 and how to sustain those
 outcomes.
    (b) Membership. The Council shall be composed of the following 16 18
 members:
       (1) eight members who shall serve as ex officio members:
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         (A) the Secretary of Education or designee;
         (B) a member of the Standards Board for Professional Educators who
 is knowledgeable in licensing requirements for teaching literacy, appointed by
 the Standards Board;
         (C) the Executive Director of the Vermont Superintendents
 Association or designee;
         (D) the Executive Director of the Vermont School Boards
 Association or designee;
         (E) the Executive Director of the Vermont Council of Special
 Education Administrators or designee;
         (F) the Executive Director of the Vermont Principals’ Association or
 designee;
         (G) the Executive Director of the Vermont Independent Schools
 Association or designee; and
         (H) the Executive Director of the Vermont-National Education
 Association or designee; and
      (2) eight members who shall serve two-year terms:
         (A) a representative, appointed by the Vermont Curriculum Leaders
 Association;
         (B) three teachers, appointed by the Vermont-National Education
 Association who teach literacy, one of whom shall be a special education VT LEG #374051 v.1
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 literacy teacher and two of whom shall teach literacy to students in
 prekindergarten through grade three;
           (C) three community members who have struggled with literacy
 proficiency or supported others who have struggled with literacy proficiency,
 one of whom shall be a high school student, appointed by the Agency of
 Education in consultation with the Vermont Family Network; and
           (D) one member appointed by the Agency of Education who has
 expertise in working with students with dyslexia; and
       (3) two faculty members of approved educator preparation programs
 located in Vermont, one of whom shall be employed by a private college or
 university, appointed by the Agency of Education in consultation with the
 Vermont Association of Independent Colleges, and one of whom shall be
 employed by a public college or university, appointed by the Agency of
 Education in consultation with the University and the Vermont State Colleges
 System.
                                        ***
    (d) Powers and duties. The Council shall advise the Agency Secretary of
 Education, the State Board of Education, and the General Assembly on how to
 improve proficiency outcomes in literacy for students in prekindergarten
 through grade 12 and how to sustain those outcomes and shall:
       (1) advise the Agency of Education Secretary on how to:
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          (A) update section 2903 of this title;
          (B) implement the statewide literacy plan required by section 2903 of
 this title and whether, based on its implementation, changes should be made to
 the plan; and
          (C) maintain the statewide literacy plan;
       (2) advise the Agency of Education Secretary on what services the
 Agency should provide to school districts to support implementation of the
 plan and on staffing levels and resources needed at the Agency to support the
 statewide effort to improve literacy;
       (3) develop a plan for collecting literacy-related data that informs:
          (A) literacy instructional practices;
          (B) teacher professional development in the field of literacy;
          (C) what proficiencies and other skills should be measured through
 literacy assessments and how those literacy assessments are incorporated into
 local assessment plans; and
          (D) how to identify school progress in achieving literacy outcomes,
 including closing literacy gaps for students from historically underserved
 populations;
       (4) recommend best practices for Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 literacy
 instruction within the multitiered system of supports required under section
 2902 of this title to best improve and sustain literacy proficiency; and VT LEG #374051 v.1
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       (5) review literacy assessments and outcomes and provide ongoing
 advice as to how to continuously improve those outcomes and sustain that
 improvement.
                                      ***
    (f) Meetings.
       (1) The Secretary of Education shall call the first meeting of the Council
 to occur on or before August 1, 2021.
       (2) The Council shall select a chair from among its members.
       (3) A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum.
       (4) The Council shall meet not more than eight four times per year.
    (g) Assistance. The Council shall have the administrative, technical, and
 legal assistance of the Agency of Education.
    (h) Compensation and reimbursement. Members of the Council shall be
 entitled to per diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses as permitted
 under 32 V.S.A. § 1010 for not more than eight four meetings of the Council
 per year.
 Sec. 9. 2021 Acts and Resolves No. 28, Sec. 7 is amended to read:
    Sec. 7. REPEAL; ADVISORY COUNCIL ON LITERACY
    16 V.S.A. § 2903a (Advisory Council on Literacy) as added by this act is
 repealed on June 30, 2024 June 30, 2027.
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                    * * * Vermont Imagination Library * * *
 Sec. 10. 16 V.S.A. chapter 135 is added to read:
           CHAPTER 135. VERMONT IMAGINATION LIBRARY
 § 4201. VERMONT IMAGINATION LIBRARY; PILOT; CREATION
    (a) Duties of Agency. The Agency of Education shall:
       (1) coordinate with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) to
 ensure statewide access to the Vermont Imagination Library program;
       (2) manage the daily operations of the Vermont Imagination Library
 program and provide oversight of the Imagination Library Special Fund,
 including establishing library-based programs in each county, communicating
 with and coordinating any volunteers at local and school libraries, and
 advancing and strengthening the program to ensure enrollment growth;
       (3) develop, promote, and coordinate a public awareness program
 to make donors aware of the opportunity to donate to the Imagination
 Library Special Fund; and
       (4) develop, promote, and coordinate a public awareness program
 to make the public aware of the opportunity to register children to receive age-
 appropriate books on a monthly basis.
    (b) Consultation with Librarian of Congress. The Secretary of Education
 may consult with the Librarian of Congress concerning the establishment,
 implementation, and funding of the Vermont Imagination Library.
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    (c) Eligibility. To receive books on a monthly basis, a child shall be under
 five years of age and a resident of Vermont.
    (d) Administrative costs. The Agency is authorized to retain up to five
 percent of the funds appropriated to the Imagination Library Special Fund for
 administrative and operating expenses related to implementation of the
 Vermont Imagination Library program.
    (e) Matching funds. The Vermont Imagination Library program shall be
 funded by 50 percent private funds and 50 percent appropriated funds. The
 Agency shall include in its annual budget request the estimated need to fund
 the Vermont Imagination Library for the following fiscal year.
    (f) Failure to appropriate funds. If the General Assembly does not
 appropriate funds to the Imagination Library Special Fund, the Agency of
 Libraries shall cease to operate the Vermont Imagination Library and may
 rescind any agreements associated with the operation or implementation of the
 program.
    (g) Reports.
       (1) Annual report. Annually, the Agency shall report to the House and
 Senate Committees on Education concerning the status of implementing the
 Vermont Imagination Library. The annual report shall include data on the
 number of children enrolled in the program, the growth of the program, and
 any feedback received from parents and educators.
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       (2) Repeal of pilot. Every three years, the Agency shall include in its
 annual report a recommendation on whether the Vermont Imagination Library
 should continue to operate or be repealed.
 § 4202. IMAGINATION LIBRARY SPECIAL FUND
    (a) There is established the Imagination Library Special Fund, which shall
 be managed in accordance with 32 V.S.A. chapter 7, subchapter 5. Private
 funding for the Vermont Imagination Library shall be deposited and credited to
 this Fund. This Fund shall be available to the Agency to administer the
 Vermont Imagination Library pursuant to section 651 of this subchapter.
 Monies in the Fund shall be used solely for purposes of the Fund and for
 necessary costs incurred in administering the Fund.
    (b) The Agency may accept gifts, donations, and grants from any source,
 public or private, to be dedicated for deposit into the F