Read to Succeed

A BILL TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 59-155-110, RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE, SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO READING BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, SO AS TO ENSURE ALIGNMENT WITH SCIENTIFICALLY-BASED READING INSTRUCTION AND FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY SKILLS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-155-120, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO INCLUDE NEW DEFINITIONS AND AMEND CURRENT DEFINITIONS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-155-130, RELATING TO THE DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT, SO AS TO ENSURE IMPLEMENTATION OF READ TO SUCCEED IS BASED IN THE SCIENCE OF READING, STRUCTURED LITERACY, AND FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY SKILLS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-155-140, RELATING TO READING PROFICIENCY PLANS, SO AS TO AMEND REQUIREMENTS FOR READING PLANS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-155-150, RELATING TO READINESS ASSESSMENT, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE ADMINISTRATION OF A BOARD APPROVED READINESS ASSESSMENT TO 4K AND 5K WITHIN THE FIRST THIRTY DAYS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR; BY ADDING SECTION 59-150-155 SO AS TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR UNIVERSAL READING SCREENERS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-155-160, RELATING TO RETENTION FOR THIRD GRADE STUDENTS AND SUMMER READING CAMP REQUIREMENTS, SO AS TO CLARIFY GOOD CAUSE EXEMPTIONS AND ENSURE DISTRICTS INCLUDE GRADES K-2 IN SUMMER READING CAMPS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-155-170, RELATING TO COMPETENCIES AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, SO AS TO REQUIRE THEY BE BASED IN FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY SKILLS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-155-180, RELATING TO PRE-SERVICE AND IN-SERVICE TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS, SO AS TO AMEND ENDORSEMENT REQUIREMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-155-200, RELATING TO PROMOTION OF READING HABITS AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, SO AS TO REMOVE SPECIFIC DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS; BY AMENDING SECTION 59-155-210, RELATING TO STANDARDS, PRACTICES, AND PROCEDURES, SO AS TO ENSURE THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO DISTRICTS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS CHAPTER; AND BY AMENDING SECTION 59-18-310, RELATING TO DEVELOPMENT OR ADOPTION OF THE STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM, SO AS TO REQUIRE FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS BE ADMINISTERED THREE TIMES A SCHOOL YEAR.