House Bill 461

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM FOR RESEARCH-BASED READING INSTRUCTION IN GRADES K-3 IN ONE SCHOOL IN EACH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT; TO PRESCRIBE CERTAIN COMPONENTS OF THE RESEARCH-BASED READING INSTRUCTION WHICH MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE PILOT PROGRAM SCHOOLS' CURRICULUM FOR GRADES K-3; TO REQUIRE STUDENTS IN THE PILOT SCHOOLS WHO EXHIBIT READING DEFICITS TO BE PROVIDED REMEDIAL INSTRUCTION; TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO IMPLEMENT THE PILOT PROGRAM CONTINGENT ON THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR SUCH PURPOSE; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM; TO AMEND SECTION 37-43-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL REQUIRE CERTAIN SUPPLIERS OF READING AND LANGUAGE ARTS INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS AND MATERIALS USED IN THE PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE A REPORT INDICATING THE THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK OF THEIR PROGRAMS AND MATERIALS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) The State Department of Education shall establish a pilot program under which the curriculum of students in Grades K-3 shall include research-based reading instruction. The department shall select one (1) elementary school in each congressional district to participate in the pilot program; the various schools selected must represent urban, suburban and rural areas of the state. The curriculum in the pilot program schools for Grades K-3 must include the following research-based reading instruction for each of these grades:

(a) Direct systematic intensive instruction in phonemic awareness;

(b) Explicit instruction in sound-symbol relationships (phonics);

(d) Varied text to develop language comprehension and fluency;

(e) Direct systematic intensive instruction in word attack skills;

(f) Age-appropriate direct systematic intensive instruction in highly regular sound-spelling relationships;

(g) Direct systematic intensive instruction in vocabulary development and enhancement of background knowledge and motivation; and

(h) Direct systematic intensive instruction in grammar, punctuation and capitalization.

(2) The kindergarten through third-grade students in the pilot schools shall be administered informal and observational assessments to diagnosis reading deficits.

(3) Any student who exhibits reading deficits must be provided individualized remedial instruction, in addition to the regular curriculum of reading instruction, by the school district until the student achieves a level of basic reading and reading comprehension consistent with the national average.

(4) Participating schools in the pilot program shall utilize research-based reading instructional materials that have accompanying professional development.

(5) The State Department of Education shall implement the pilot program contingent on funds available for such purpose. No state funds shall be used for this program unless specifically authorized by the Legislature for such purpose.

(6) The State Department of Education shall submit an annual report to the Legislature on the effectiveness of the research-based reading instruction pilot program. The report must include the test results from each school participating in the program and recommendations on remediation procedures.

SECTION 2. Section 37-43-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-43-19. The board shall have the power and is * * * authorized:

(a) To promulgate rules and regulations for the purchase, care, use, disposal, distribution and accounting for all books to be furnished under the terms of this chapter, and to promulgate such other rules and regulations as may be necessary for the proper administration of this chapter.

(b) To adopt, contract for, and make available for purchase, cash or credit, basal, supplementary or alternative textbooks through twelve (12) grades as provided in the school curriculum, or for any other course that it may add to the school curriculum.

(c) To determine the period of contract for rated and adopted textbooks, which shall not be for less than four (4) years nor more than five (5) years, with the right of the board, in its discretion, to renew or extend such contract from year to year for a period not exceeding two (2) additional years and to determine the conditions of the approval or forfeiture of a contract and such other terms and conditions as may be necessary and not contrary to law.

(d) To have complete power and authority over additions and amendments to textbooks, advertising for bids and the contents thereof, including auxiliary materials and workbooks, advertising on the protective covers of textbooks, bids and proposals, prices of textbooks, specimen copies, cash deposits, selection and adoption, distribution, fumigation, emergencies, selling to others, return of deposits, forfeiture of deposits, regulations governing deposits, renovation and repair of books, requisition, transportation or shipment of books, and any other acts or regulations, not contrary to law, that may be deemed necessary for furnishing and loaning free textbooks to the school children, as provided in this chapter.

(e) To require all suppliers of reading and language arts instructional programs and materials that are used in the schools participating in the pilot program established under Section 1 of House Bill No. , 2002 Regular Session, which are purchased with either state funds or federal funds and which are administered by the state to provide a report indicating the theoretical framework of their programs and materials.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2002.