PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 2353, 2410
PRINTER'S NO. 2540
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2045
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY ORTITAY, GUENST, LEWIS DELROSSO, MIHALEK,
SCHLOSSBERG, HILL-EVANS, SCHMITT, JAMES, GAYDOS, JOZWIAK,
INNAMORATO, NEILSON AND GUZMAN, NOVEMBER 3, 2021
AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
DECEMBER 15, 2021
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in certification of teachers,
providing for teacher support in the Science of Reading
Program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 1205.8. Teacher support in the Science of Reading
Program.
(a) Legislative intent.--
(1) It is the intent of the General Assembly that
teachers be equipped to facilitate high-quality reading
instruction grounded in the science of reading and
intervention services to address student reading needs.
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(2) The program provided in this section will assist
PARTICIPATING school entities in providing professional
development for teachers in foundational skills and
instructional interventions based on the science of reading
and providing opportunities for school personnel to serve as
reading coaches to support teachers in delivering high-
quality reading instruction.
(b) Program to be conducted.--
(1) Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, the
department shall establish a program of professional
development and applied practice in the science of reading
for school personnel that includes in-class demonstration,
modeling and coaching support to improve reading and literacy
outcomes.
(2) School personnel selected by the department from a
list of names submitted by the PARTICIPATING school entity to
serve as professional coaches for this program must have at
least five years of experience in teaching of reading and be
able to demonstrate their skills in the instruction of and
intervention with students, including those with dyslexia and
other language-related disabilities.
(3) The department may contract with multiple service
providers , including , but not limited to, local education
agencies SCHOOL ENTITIES and institutions of higher education
with demonstrated experience in science of reading, to
develop and implement the program so that experienced support
is available locally.
(4) A PARTICIPATING school entity or institution of
higher education that demonstrates successful implementation
of literacy outcomes is eligible to provide professional
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development and onsite demonstration and coaching support in
the p rogram.
(5) A participating school entity shall adopt high-
quality instructional materials grounded in scientific-based
reading research in accordance with the State academic
standards approved by the State Board of Education.
(c) Professional learning for prekindergarten, kindergarten,
first, second, third and fourth grade teachers.--The CONTINUING
professional education plan of each school entity shall MAY
include training in the science of reading for prekindergarten,
kindergarten, first, second, third and fourth grade teachers.
To ensure that school personnel have the knowledge and skill to
teach all students to read, including students with dyslexia and
other language-based learning disabilities, training shall
address, but shall not be limited to:
(1) Evidence-based intervention practices on the science
of reading.
(2) Explicit and systematic instruction in phonological
and phonemic awareness.
(3) The alphabetic principle, decoding and encoding,
fluency and vocabulary.
(4) Reading comprehension and building content
knowledge.
(d) Continuing professional education.--School employes
required to undergo continuing professional education under
section 1205.2 or 1205.5 shall receive credit toward the school
employe's continuing professional education requirements if the
training program has been approved by the department.
(e) Reading and literary outcomes.--The department shall
establish criteria by which a school entity or institution of
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higher education can measure reading and literacy outcomes.
(f) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Institution of higher education." As defined in section
118(c).
"PARTICIPATING SCHOOL ENTITY." A SCHOOL ENTITY THAT ELECTS
TO TAKE PART IN THE SCIENCE OF READING PROGRAM.
"School entity." A school district, intermediate unit, area
career and technical school, charter school, cyber charter
school or regional charter school.
"Science of reading." Evidence-based instructional and
assessment practices that address the multimodal approach that
integrates listening, speaking, reading, spelling and writing in
the acquisition of oral and written language skills that can be
differentiated to meet the needs of individual students.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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