(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Achievement gap” means the existence of a significant disparity in the academic performance of students among and between (A) racial groups, (B) ethnic groups, (C) socioeconomic groups, (D) genders, and (E) English language learners and students whose primary language is English.

(2) “Scientifically-based reading research and instruction” means (A) a comprehensive program or a collection of instructional practices that is based on reliable, valid evidence showing that when such programs or practices are used, students can be expected to achieve satisfactory reading progress, and (B) the integration of instructional strategies for continuously assessing, evaluating and communicating the student's reading progress and needs in order to design and implement ongoing interventions so that students of all ages and proficiency levels can read and comprehend text and apply higher level thinking skills. Such comprehensive program or collection of practices shall include, but not be limited to, instruction in five areas of reading: Phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and text comprehension.

(b) For the school year commencing July 1, 2014, and each school year thereafter, the Commissioner of Education shall create an intensive reading instruction program to improve student literacy in grades kindergarten to grade three, inclusive, and close the achievement gap. Such intensive reading instruction program shall include routine reading assessments for students in kindergarten to grade three, inclusive, scientifically-based reading research and instruction, an intensive reading intervention strategy, as described in subsection (c) of this section, supplemental reading instruction and reading remediation plans, as described in subsection (d) of this section, and an intensive summer school reading program, as described in subsection (e) of this section. For the school year commencing July 1, 2014, the commissioner shall select five elementary schools that are (1) located in an educational reform district, as defined in section 10-262u, (2) participating in the commissioner's network of schools, pursuant to section 10-223h, or (3) among the lowest five per cent of elementary schools in school subject performance indices for reading and mathematics, as defined in section 10-223e, to participate in the intensive reading instruction program and for the school year commencing July 1, 2015, and each school year thereafter, the commissioner may select up to five additional such elementary schools to participate in the intensive reading instruction program.

(c) On or before July 1, 2014, the Department of Education shall develop an intensive reading intervention strategy for use by schools selected by the Commissioner of Education to participate in the intensive reading instruction program to address the achievement gap at such schools and to ensure that all students are reading proficiently by grade three in such schools. Such intensive reading intervention strategy for schools shall (1) include, but not be limited to, (A) rigorous assessments in reading skills, (B) scientifically-based reading research and instruction, (C) one external literacy coach for each school, to be funded by the department, who will work with the reading data collected, support the principal of the school as needed, observe, and coach classes and supervise the reading interventions, (D) four reading interventionists for each school, to be funded by the department, who will develop a reading remediation plan for any student who is reading below proficiency, be responsible for all supplemental reading instruction, and conduct reading assessments as needed, and (E) training for teachers and administrators in scientifically-based reading research and instruction, including, training for school administrators on how to assess a classroom to ensure that all children are proficient in reading by grade three, and (2) outline, at a minimum, how (A) reading data will be collected, analyzed and used for purposes of instructional development, (B) professional and leadership development will be related to reading data analysis and used to support individual teacher and classroom needs, (C) the selected schools will communicate with parents and guardians of students on reading instruction strategies and student reading performance goals, and on opportunities for parents and guardians to partner with teachers and school administrators to improve reading at home and at school, (D) teachers and school leaders will be trained in the science of teaching reading, (E) periodic student progress reports will be issued, and (F) such selected school intensive reading intervention strategy will be monitored at the classroom level. The commissioner shall review and evaluate the school intensive reading intervention strategy for model components that may be used and replicated in other schools and school districts to ensure that all children are proficient in reading by grade three.

(d) (1) For the school year commencing July 1, 2014, and each school year thereafter, each school selected by the Commissioner of Education to participate in the intensive reading instruction program under this section shall provide supplemental reading instruction to students in kindergarten to grade three, inclusive, who are reading below proficiency, as identified by the reading assessment described in section 10-14t. Such supplemental reading instruction shall be provided by a reading interventionist during regular school hours.

(2) A reading remediation plan shall be developed by a reading interventionist for each student in kindergarten to grade three, inclusive, who has been identified as reading below proficiency to address and correct the reading deficiency of such student. Such remediation plan shall include instructional strategies that utilize research based reading instruction materials and teachers trained in reading instruction, parental involvement in the implementation of the remediation plan and regular progress reports on such student.

(3) The principal of a school selected by the Commissioner of Education to participate in the intensive reading instruction program under this section shall notify the parent or guardian of any student in kindergarten to grade three, inclusive, who has been identified as being below proficiency in reading. Such notice shall be in writing and (A) include an explanation of why such student is below proficiency in reading, and (B) inform such parent or guardian that a remediation plan, as described in subdivision (2) of this subsection, will be developed for such student to provide supplemental reading instruction, including strategies for the parent or guardian to use at home with such student.

(e) (1) Any student enrolled in a school selected by the Commissioner of Education that is located in a priority school district, pursuant to section 10-266p, to participate in the intensive reading instruction program under this section and who is reading below proficiency at the end of the school year shall be enrolled in an intensive summer school reading instruction program. Such intensive summer school reading instruction program shall include, (A) a comprehensive reading intervention program, (B) scientifically-based reading research and instruction strategies and interventions, (C) diagnostic assessments administered to a student prior to or during an intensive summer school reading instruction program to determine such student's particularized need for instruction, (D) teachers who are trained in the teaching of reading and reading assessment and intervention, and (E) weekly progress monitoring to assess the reading progress of such student and tailor instruction for such student.

(2) The principal of a school selected by the Commissioner of Education to participate in the intensive reading instruction program under this section shall submit reports to the Department of Education, at such time and in such manner as prescribed by the department, on (A) student reading progress for each student reading below proficiency based on the data collected from the screening and progress monitoring of such student using the reading assessments described in section 10-14t, and (B) the specific reading interventions and supports implemented.

(f) Not later than October 1, 2015, and annually thereafter, the department shall report to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, on student reading levels in schools participating in the intensive reading instruction program. Such report shall include recommendations on model components of the school intensive reading intervention strategy that may be used and replicated in other schools and school districts.

(P.A. 12-116, S. 89; P.A. 13-31, S. 5; 13-245, S. 12.)

History: P.A. 12-116 effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 13-31 made a technical change in Subsec. (d)(3), effective May 28, 2013; P.A. 13-245 amended Subsecs. (b), (c) and (d)(1) by replacing references to “July 1, 2012” with references to “July 1, 2014”, amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “July 1, 2013” with “July 1, 2015” and adding provisions re participation of additional elementary schools and amended Subsec. (f) by replacing “October 1, 2013” with “October 1, 2015”, effective July 1, 2013.