Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
Act 489 of the Regular Session
1 State of Arkansas As Engrossed: S1/26/21 S2/24/21
2 93rd General Assembly A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2021 SENATE BILL 62
4
5 By: Senator Irvin
6 By: Representative Vaught
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8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE
10 CONCERNING THE RIGHT TO READ ACT; AND FOR OTHER
11 PURPOSES.
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14 Subtitle
15 TO AMEND PROVISIONS OF THE ARKANSAS CODE
16 CONCERNING THE RIGHT TO READ ACT.
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19 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
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21 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code 6-17-429(d), concerning the Right to Read
22 Act, is amended to read as follows:
23 (d)(1) By the beginning of the 2021-2022 2023-2024 school year:
24 (A)(i) All teachers employed in a classroom teaching
25 position that requires an elementary education (K-6) license or special
26 education (K-12) license a license to teach elementary students in grades
27 kindergarten through six (K-6) or a license to teach special education for
28 students in grades kindergarten through twelve (K-12) shall demonstrate
29 proficiency in knowledge and practices of scientific reading instruction;
30 and.
31 (ii) A teacher described in subdivision (d)(1)(A)(i)
32 of this section who has not demonstrated proficiency by the 2023-2024 school
33 year may be afforded an opportunity to demonstrate proficiency by being
34 placed in an intensive support status under 6-17-2807 for a period of time
35 specified by the teacher's evaluator in the professional growth plan for the
36 teacher; and
*JNL031* 02-24-2021 09:53:25 JNL031
As Engrossed: S1/26/21 S2/24/21 SB62
1 (B) All other teachers shall demonstrate awareness in
2 knowledge and practices of scientific reading instruction.
3 (2) All teachers who begin employment in the 2021-2022 2023-2024
4 school year and each following school year thereafter shall demonstrate
5 proficiency or awareness in knowledge and practices in of scientific reading
6 instruction as is applicable to their teaching position by completing the
7 prescribed proficiency or awareness in knowledge and practices of the
8 scientific reading instruction credential either:
9 (A) As a condition of licensure; or
10 (B) Within one (1) year if the teacher is:
11 (i) Already licensed; or
12 (ii) Employed under a waiver from licensure.
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14
15 /s/Irvin
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18 APPROVED: 3/25/21
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2 02-24-2021 09:53:25 JNL031

Statutes affected:
Old version SB62 Original - 1-6-2021 12:56 PM: 6-17-429(d)
Old version SB62 V2 - 1-26-2021 10:54 AM: 6-17-429(d)
Old version SB62 V3 - 2-24-2021 09:53 AM: 6-17-429(d)
SB 62: 6-17-429(d)
Act 489: 6-17-429(d)
Old version of SB 62 - 02-24-21: 6-17-429(d)
Old version of SB 62 - 01-26-21: 6-17-429(d)
Old version of SB 62 - 01-06-21: 6-17-429(d)