(1) On or before August 1, 2008, as part of its responsibility for education standards and practice, the department may make available technical assistance and training concerning issues faced by students with literacy challenges, including dyslexia, to school districts, administrative units as defined in section 22-20-103 (1), residential treatment facilities, correctional facilities, and other local education agencies throughout the state. The provision of any technical assistance and training pursuant to this subsection (1) shall not preclude the department from using federal funds to implement such technical assistance and training. Any technical assistance and training provided shall include, but need not be limited to, the areas of awareness, assessment, identification, and evidence-based progress monitoring, and shall include scientifically based interventions to address the needs of students with literacy challenges, including dyslexia. Any technical assistance and training provided shall represent a tiered continuum of intensity for intervention consistent with the response to intervention model that school districts are required to implement no later than August 15, 2009, pursuant to rules adopted by the department.

(2) The department is encouraged to coordinate any technical assistance and training provided with current best practices and work occurring in teacher preparation programs at institutions of higher education. Where appropriate, the department is encouraged to provide technical assistance and training to school districts, administrative units, residential treatment facilities, correctional facilities, and local education agencies in a coordinated effort with teacher preparation programs at institutions of higher education. The department and institutions of higher education are encouraged to work collaboratively to develop or affirm minimum standards for teacher preparation programs in the areas of literacy assessment and instructional skills, including dyslexia awareness, identification, and remediation for general and special education.

(3) On or before January 30, 2009, and on or before January 30 each year thereafter, the department shall report to the state board of education and to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate, or any successor committees, concerning the activities and status of any technical assistance and training made available pursuant to this section.

(4) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) "Literacy challenge" means a situation where a student is experiencing difficulty in reading in phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, or comprehension.

(b) "Response to intervention" means a model for education developed pursuant to rules adopted pursuant to the "Exceptional Children's Educational Act", article 20 of this title, that promotes a well-integrated system connecting general, compensatory, gifted, and special education in providing high-quality, standards-based instruction and intervention that is matched to a student's academic, social-emotional, and behavioral needs.