HB 0797 2004
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to public school student progression;
3	amending s. 1008.25, F.S.; revising provisions relating to
4	mandatory retention; providing for mandatory retention at
5	the end of grade 4 based on reading deficiency
6	demonstrated by statewide assessment testing and teacher
7	observation; providing an effective date.
8
9	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11	Section 1. Subsection (5) of section 1008.25, Florida
12	Statutes, is amended to read:
13	1008.25 Public school student progression; remedial
14	instruction; reporting requirements.--
15	(5) READING DEFICIENCY AND PARENTAL NOTIFICATION.--
16	(a) It is the ultimate goal of the Legislature that every
17	student read at or above grade level. Any student who exhibits a
18	substantial deficiency in reading, based upon locally determined
19	or statewide assessments conducted in kindergarten or grade 1,
20	grade 2, or grade 3, or through teacher observations, must be
21	given intensive reading instruction immediately following the
22	identification of the reading deficiency. The student's reading
23	proficiency must be reassessed by locally determined assessments
24	or through teacher observations at the beginning of the grade
25	following the intensive reading instruction. The student must
26	continue to be provided with intensive reading instruction until
27	the reading deficiency is remedied.
28	(b) Beginning with the 2004-2005 2002-2003school year, if
29	the student's reading deficiency, as identified in paragraph
30	(a), is not remedied by the end of grade 4 3, as demonstrated by
31	statewide assessment testing in reading and by teacher
32	observation of a deficiency in reading scoring at Level 2 or
33	higher on the statewide assessment test in reading for grade 3,
34	the student must be retained.
35	(c) Beginning with the 2004-2005 2002-2003school year,
36	the parent of any student who exhibits a substantial deficiency
37	in reading, as described in paragraph (a), must be notified in
38	writing of the following:
39	1. That his or her child has been identified as having a
40	substantial deficiency in reading.
41	2. A description of the current services that are provided
42	to the child.
43	3. A description of the proposed supplemental
44	instructional services and supports that will be provided to the
45	child that are designed to remediate the identified area of
46	reading deficiency.
47	4. That if the child's reading deficiency is not
48	remediated by the end of grade 4 3, the child must be retained
49	unless he or she is exempt from mandatory retention for good
50	cause.
51	5. Strategies for parents to use in helping their child
52	succeed in reading proficiency.
53	Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2004.