Florida Senate - 2010 SB 976
By Senator Wilson
33-00949-10 2010976__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to teaching students in grades 1
3 through 3 in public elementary schools; creating s.
4 1008.26, F.S.; requiring that certain students who are
5 enrolled in a public elementary school and reading
6 below grade level be placed into an intensive reading
7 lab; specifying criteria for an intensive reading lab;
8 providing for oversight of the progress of students
9 assigned to a reading lab; encouraging the principal
10 of a school where reading labs are required to solicit
11 donations to secure instructional materials; requiring
12 that the principal of a public school where students
13 in grades 1 through 3 are enrolled in a reading lab to
14 create, by hiring or training, a team of teachers
15 having expertise in specified areas; specifying
16 requirements for training teachers to teach reading;
17 requiring that the principal assign teachers on the
18 team for a specified time to classes of students in
19 grades 1 through 3; providing an effective date.
20
21 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
22
23 Section 1. Section 1008.26, Florida Statutes, is created to
24 read:
25 1008.26 Reading at grade level by grade 4.—
26 (1) Each student who is entering kindergarten, first grade,
27 second grade, or third grade must be assessed as to his or her
28 proficiency in the subject of reading as defined by the Sunshine
29 State Standards. Each student who is reading below grade level
30 must be placed into an intensive reading lab that:
31 (a) Has a student-teacher ratio of not more than five
32 students per one full-time equivalent teacher.
33 (b) Is staffed at all times by a teacher who is certified
34 under s. 1012.56 and has expertise in the area of teaching
35 reading skills to students in kindergarten through grade 3.
36 (c) Provides the student, for 2 hours each school day, with
37 tutoring and remediation so that the student learns to read at
38 grade level.
39 (2) Each student who is assigned to an intensive reading
40 lab must be reassessed in the middle and at the end of each
41 school year and, if the student is reading at or above his or
42 her grade level, the student’s assignment to the intensive
43 reading lab shall be terminated.
44 (3) The principal of each public school where an intensive
45 reading lab is required under subsection (1) is encouraged to
46 solicit, particularly from persons who qualify for an income tax
47 deduction or credit under federal tax law, the donation of funds
48 for purchasing instructional materials for use by students
49 assigned to the lab, including books or computer technology or
50 software, or the donation of such materials.
51 (4)(a) The principal of each public school in which
52 students in grades 1 through 3 are enrolled shall, by hiring
53 teachers or securing training for teachers already hired, create
54 a team of teachers for grades 1 through 3 which includes a
55 nearly equal distribution of teachers having expertise in each
56 of the following areas:
57 1. Teaching reading to students in grades 1 through 3. At
58 least one-third of the team must have this expertise.
59 2. Teaching science and math to students in grades 1
60 through 3.
61 3. Teaching social science to students in grades 1 through
62 3.
63
64 If training is necessary for a teacher to develop expertise in
65 the area of teaching reading to students in grades 1 through 3,
66 the training must be provided outside the regular school day.
67 (b) After July 1, 2012, the principal shall assign teachers
68 so that during each school day at least one teacher in each of
69 the areas of expertise described in paragraph (a) teaches for a
70 minimum of 2 hours in the classroom of each student enrolled in
71 grades 1 through 3. Before July 1, 2012, the principal is
72 encouraged to make such assignments.
73 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.