HB 1435

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to teaching students in grades 1 through 3
3in public elementary schools; creating s. 1008.26, F.S.;
4requiring that certain students who are enrolled in a
5public elementary school and reading below grade level be
6placed into an intensive reading lab; specifying criteria
7for an intensive reading lab; providing for oversight of
8the progress of students assigned to a lab; encouraging
9the principal of a school where reading labs are required
10to ask for donations to secure instructional materials;
11requiring a principal of a public school where students in
12grades 1 through 3 are enrolled to create, by hiring or
13training, a team of teachers for those grades having
14expertise in specified areas; specifying requirements
15concerning how to train certain teachers to teach reading;
16requiring the principal to assign teachers on the team for
17a specified time to classes of students in grades 1
18through 3; providing an effective date.
19
20Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
21
22     Section 1.  Section 1008.26, Florida Statutes, is created
23to read:
24     1008.26  Reading by grade 4.--
25     (1)  Each student who is entering kindergarten, first
26grade, second grade, or third grade must be assessed as to his
27or her proficiency in the subject of reading as defined by the
28Sunshine State Standards. Each student who is reading below
29grade level must be placed into an intensive reading lab that:
30     (a)  Has a student-teacher ratio of not more than 5
31students per one full-time equivalent teacher.
32     (b)  Is staffed at all times by a teacher who is certified
33under s. 1012.56 and has expertise in the area of teaching
34reading skills to students in kindergarten through grade 3.
35     (c)  Provides the student, for 2 hours each school day,
36with tutoring and remediation so that the student learns to read
37at grade level.
38     (2)  Each student assigned to an intensive reading lab must
39be reassessed in the middle and at the end of each school year
40and if the student is reading at or above his or her grade
41level, the student's assignment to the intensive reading lab
42shall be terminated.
43     (3)  The principal of each public school where an intensive
44reading lab is required under subsection (1) is encouraged to
45ask persons, particularly persons who may qualify for an income
46tax deduction or credit under federal tax law, to donate funds
47for the school to buy instructional materials, such as books or
48computer technology or software, for use by the students
49assigned to the lab, or to donate such materials.
50     (4)(a)  The principal of each public school in which
51students in grades 1 through 3 are enrolled shall, by hiring
52teachers or securing training for teachers already hired, create
53a team of teachers for grades 1 through 3 which includes a
54nearly equal distribution of teachers having expertise in each
55of the following areas:
56     1.  Teaching reading to students in grades 1 through 3. At
57least one-third of the team must have this expertise.
58     2.  Teaching science and math to students in grades 1
59through 3.
60     3.  Teaching social science to students in grades 1 through
613.
62
63If training is required so that a teacher can develop expertise
64in the area of teaching reading to students in grades 1 through
653, the training must be provided outside the regular school day.
66     (b)  After July 1, 2009, the principal shall assign
67teachers so that each school day at least one teacher in each of
68the areas of expertise described in paragraph (a) visits and
69teaches for a minimum of 2 hours in the classroom of each
70student enrolled in grades 1 through 3. Before July 1, 2009, the
71principal is encouraged to make such assignments.
72     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2007.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.