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HB2021 - 572R - I Ver
PREFILED��� NOV 25 2025
REFERENCE TITLE:
K-3 reading program; curriculum requirements
State of Arizona
House of Representatives
Fifty-seventh Legislature
Second Regular Session
2026
HB 2021
Introduced by
Representative
Fink
AN
ACT
amending section 15-211, Arizona
Revised Statutes; relating to the K-3 reading program.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Section 15-211, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:
START_STATUTE
15-211.
K-3 reading program; dyslexia specialist; dyslexia training;
receipt and use of monies; additional funding; annual report
A. The department of education shall administer a K-3
reading program to improve the reading proficiency of pupils in kindergarten
programs and grades one, two and three in the public schools of this state.
B. The department of education shall designate a
dyslexia specialist for the department to provide school districts and charter
schools with support and resources that are necessary to assist students with
dyslexia.
C.
On or before July 1, 2022,
Each school district and charter school shall ensure that at least one
kindergarten through third grade teacher, literacy coach or literacy specialist
in each school has received training related to dyslexia that complies with the
requirements prescribed in section 15-219.
D. Each school district and charter school shall
submit to the department of education a plan for improving the reading
proficiency of the school district's or the charter school's pupils in
kindergarten programs and grades one, two and three. The plan
shall
must
include baseline data on the
reading proficiency of the school district's or the charter school's pupils in
kindergarten programs and grades one, two and three and a budget for spending
monies from both the K-3 support level weight and the K-3 reading
support level weight established in section 15-943.� Each school district
and charter school shall annually submit to the department of education on or
before October 1 an updated K-3 reading program plan that includes data
on program expenditures and results.
E. School districts and charter schools shall use
monies generated by the K-3 reading support level weight established in
section 15-943 only on instructional purposes based on the plan submitted
pursuant to subsection D of this section intended to improve reading
proficiency for pupils in kindergarten programs and grades one, two and three
with particular emphasis on pupils in kindergarten programs and grades one and
two.
F. Each school district and charter school that is
assigned a letter grade of C, D or F pursuant to section 15-241 or that
has more than ten percent of its pupils in grade three who do not demonstrate
sufficient reading skills as established by the state board of education
according to the reading portion of the statewide assessment shall receive
monies generated by the K-3 reading support level weight established in
section 15-943 only after the K-3 reading program plan of the
school district or charter school has been submitted, reviewed and recommended
for approval by the department of education and approved by the state
board. The state board must give approval to a school district or
charter school before any portion of the monies generated by the K-3
reading support level weight may be distributed to the school district or
charter school pursuant to this subsection.
G. Pupils in a charter school that is in its first
year of operation and that is sponsored by the state board of education, the
state board for charter schools, a university under the jurisdiction of the
Arizona board of regents, a community college district or a group of community
college districts are eligible for the K-3 reading support level weight.
H. The department of education shall solicit gifts,
grants and donations from any lawful public or private source in order to
provide additional funding for the K-3 reading program.
I. The state board of education may establish rules
and policies for the K-3 reading program, including:
1. The proper use of monies in accordance with
subsection E of this section.
2. The distribution of monies by the department of
education in accordance with subsection D of this section.
3. The compliance of reading proficiency plans
submitted pursuant to subsection D of this section with section 15-704.
J. Pursuant to subsection I of this section, the
department of education shall develop program implementation guidance for
school districts and charter schools to assist schools in administering an
effective K-3 evidence-based reading program plan. This
guidance shall include identifying and recommending appropriate program
expenditures, providing technical oversight and assistance for annually
updating reading program plans, selecting and adopting evidence-based reading
curricula and providing and promoting teacher professional development that is
based on evidence-based reading research.� The department shall
prioritize supports and interventions, including enrollment in reading
trainings and professional development, for school districts and charter
schools that have the highest percentage of pupils who do not demonstrate
sufficient reading skills as established by the state board of
education. The department shall deposit any monies received for
offering reading trainings or professional development, including coaching, in
the department of education professional development revolving fund established
by section 15-237.01.
K. the state board of education and
the department of education may not require a school district or charter school
to change the evidence-based reading curricula that the school district
governing board or charter school governing body has adopted for the reading
proficiency plan submitted pursuant to subsection D of this section if at least
seventy percent of the school district's or charter school's pupils in grade
three demonstrated sufficient reading skills as established by the state board
of education according to the reading portion of the statewide assessment in
the preceding school year.
K.
L.
On
or before December 15, the department of education shall submit an annual
report on the K-3 reading program to the governor, the president of the
senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and shall provide a copy
of this annual report to the secretary of state, the state board of education
and the chairpersons of the education committees of the senate and the house of
representatives. The report shall contain all of the following:
1. Information on the improvement of K-3
reading in this state, including achievement data statewide and achievement
data at the school district and charter school level. The
information pursuant to this paragraph shall include data and information on
continued proficiency on the statewide assessment in subsequent grades.
2. A description of the activities of the department
to support school districts and charter schools in improving K-3 reading.
3. Specific findings on methods by which the
department may continue to improve support and assistance for school districts
and charter schools in the administration of K-3 reading program plans.
4. Information and data on K-3 reading program
plans throughout this state and the expenditure of K-3 reading monies by
school districts and charter schools.
5. Data reported pursuant to section 15-701,
subsection A, paragraph 2, subdivision (d).
END_STATUTE