Senate Bill sb2630
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2007 SB 2630
By Senator Wilson
33-1618A-07
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to teaching students in grades
3 1 through 3 in public elementary schools;
4 creating s. 1008.26, F.S.; requiring that
5 certain students who are enrolled in a public
6 elementary school and reading below grade level
7 be placed into an intensive reading lab;
8 specifying criteria for an intensive reading
9 lab; providing for oversight of the progress of
10 students assigned to a lab; encouraging the
11 principal of a school where reading labs are
12 required to ask for donations to secure
13 instructional materials; requiring a principal
14 of a public school where students in grades 1
15 through 3 are enrolled to create, by hiring or
16 training, a team of teachers for those grades
17 having expertise in specified areas; specifying
18 requirements concerning how to train certain
19 teachers to teach reading; requiring the
20 principal to assign teachers on the team for a
21 specified time to classes of students in grades
22 1 through 3; providing an effective date.
23
24 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
25
26 Section 1. Section 1008.26, Florida Statutes, is
27 created to read:
28 1008.26 Reading by grade 4.--
29 (1) Each student who is entering kindergarten, first
30 grade, second grade, or third grade must be assessed as to his
31 or her proficiency in the subject of reading as defined by the
1
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2007 SB 2630
33-1618A-07
1 Sunshine State Standards. Each student who is reading below
2 grade level must be placed into an intensive reading lab that:
3 (a) Has a student-teacher ratio of not more than 5
4 students per one full-time equivalent teacher.
5 (b) Is staffed at all times by a teacher who is
6 certified under s. 1012.56 and has expertise in the area of
7 teaching reading skills to students in kindergarten through
8 grade 3.
9 (c) Provides the student, for 2 hours each school day,
10 with tutoring and remediation so that the student learns to
11 read at grade level.
12 (2) Each student assigned to an intensive reading lab
13 must be reassessed in the middle and at the end of each school
14 year and if the student is reading at or above his or her
15 grade level, the student's assignment to the intensive reading
16 lab shall be terminated.
17 (3) The principal of each public school where an
18 intensive reading lab is required under subsection (1) is
19 encouraged to ask persons, particularly persons who may
20 qualify for an income tax deduction or credit under federal
21 tax law, to donate funds for the school to buy instructional
22 materials, such as books or computer technology or software,
23 for use by the students assigned to the lab, or to donate such
24 materials.
25 (4)(a) The principal of each public school in which
26 students in grades 1 through 3 are enrolled shall, by hiring
27 teachers or securing training for teachers already hired,
28 create a team of teachers for grades 1 through 3 which
29 includes a nearly equal distribution of teachers having
30 expertise in each of the following areas:
31
2
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2007 SB 2630
33-1618A-07
1 1. Teaching reading to students in grades 1 through 3.
2 At least one-third of the team must have this expertise.
3 2. Teaching science and math to students in grades 1
4 through 3.
5 3. Teaching social science to students in grades 1
6 through 3.
7
8 If training is required so that a teacher can develop
9 expertise in the area of teaching reading to students in
10 grades 1 through 3, the training must be provided outside the
11 regular school day.
12 (b) After July 1, 2009, the principal shall assign
13 teachers so that each school day at least one teacher in each
14 of the areas of expertise described in paragraph (a) visits
15 and teaches for a minimum of 2 hours in the classroom of each
16 student enrolled in grades 1 through 3. Before July 1, 2009,
17 the principal is encouraged to make such assignments.
18 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2007.
19
20 *****************************************
21 SENATE SUMMARY
22 Requires that certain students who are enrolled in a
public elementary school and reading below grade level be
23 assigned to an intensive reading lab. Specifies criteria
for the lab. Provides for oversight of the progress of
24 students assigned to a reading lab. Encourages principals
of schools where reading labs are required to ask for
25 donations to secure instructional materials. Requires
principals of public schools where students in grades 1
26 through 3 are enrolled to create, by hiring or training,
a team of teachers for those grades having expertise in
27 specified areas. Specifies requirements concerning the
training of certain teachers to teach reading. Requires
28 the principal to assign teachers on the team for a
specified time to classes of students in those grades.
29
30
31
3
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.