Senate Bill 601 makes changes to the Reading Sufficiency Act in hopes of helping younger learners more effectively. Governor Kevin Stitt signed the measure into law this week.
SB 601 requires each kindergarten student to be screened for reading skills at the beginning, mid-point and end of the school year. It also instructs schools to provide certain instruction for students kindergarten through third grade who aren’t meeting grade-level targets in reading.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister says the new law helps align instruction with state standards.
“We are grateful to Gov. Stitt for his support of Senate Bill 601. This important legislation represents the final step needed to align the Reading Sufficiency Act with the new state academic standards. It strikes a more appropriate balance between setting high expectations and providing necessary instructional supports to ensure our youngest learners have the reading skills they need,” said Hofmeister.
“We are grateful to Sen. Gary Stanislawski and Rep. Jadine Nollan for authoring SB 601, and to both chambers for their support.”
SB 601 takes effect on July 1, 2019.
