Sen. Louise Lucas

Virginia Literacy Act; early student literacy; evidence-based literacy instruction; science-based reading research. Makes several changes relating to early student literacy, including requiring (i) each education preparation program offered by a public institution of higher education or private institution of higher education or alternative certification program that provides training for any individual seeking initial licensure with an endorsement in a certain area, including as a reading specialist, to demonstrate mastery of science-based reading research and evidence-based literacy instruction, as such terms are defined in the bill; (ii) the literacy assessment required of individuals seeking initial teacher licensure with endorsements in certain areas to include a rigorous test of science-based reading research and evidence-based literacy instruction; (iii) each school board to establish a divisionwide literacy plan; and (iv) each local school board to provide a program of literacy instruction whereby, among other things, (a) the program provides reading intervention services to students in kindergarten through grade three who demonstrate deficiencies based on their individual performance on the Standards of Learning reading assessment or an early literacy screener provided or approved by the Department of Education; (b) a reading specialist, in collaboration with the teacher of any student who receives such reading intervention services, develops, oversees implementation of, and monitors student progress on a student reading plan; and (c) each student who receives such reading intervention services is assessed utilizing either the early literacy screener provided or approved by the Department or the grade-level reading Standards of Learning assessment again at the end of that school year. The provisions of the bill become effective beginning with the 2024–2025 school year, except that the requirement that each local school board employ one reading specialist for each 550 students in kindergarten through grade three and requirements related to such reading specialist shall become effective beginning with the 2022–2023 school year.

Summons for unlawful detainer; notice; adverseemployment actions prohibited. Requires any summons for unlawfuldetainer to include a notice to the tenant that it is unlawful forhis employer to discharge him from employment or take any adversepersonnel action against him for appearing at an initial or subsequenthearing on such summons, provided that he has given reasonable noticeof such hearing to his employer.

Virginia Board of Workforce Development; collaboration to develop apprenticeship program. Directs the Virginia Board of Workforce Development (the Board) to collaborate with the Department of Labor and Industry, the Department of Education, and the Secretaries of Labor, Education, and Commerce and Trade and rely on data from the Office of Education and Labor Market Alignment in reviewing the performance of current apprenticeship programs in meeting high-demand industry needs. The bill requires the Board to prepare recommendations for creating a primary office for apprenticeship programs based on such review and report its recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1, 2022. This bill is identical to HB 718.

Emergency Shelters Upgrade Assistance Grant Fund. Allows funds in the Emergency Shelters Upgrade Assistance Grant Fund to be paid to entities outlined in local shelter plans to install, maintain, or repair infrastructure for backup energy generation for emergency shelters, including solar energy generators, and improve the hazard-specific structural integrity of shelter facilities owned by the locality or identified in the shelter plan of the locality. This bill incorporates SB 521.