Pilot Program for Students with Reading Deficiencies

HB 1123 2026

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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to a pilot program for students with 2
reading deficiencies; creating s. 1008.251, F.S.; 3
creating the First Grade Summer Reading Immersion 4
Pilot Program for a specified period of time; 5
providing the purpose of the program; providing 6
requirements for a student to be deemed at risk of 7
having a reading deficiency; providing Department of 8
Education and school district duties; requiring the 9
department to provide a report to the Legislature upon 10
completion of the pilot program; providing 11
requirements for such report; providing for the future 12
repeal of the program; providing an effective date. 13
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 15
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Section 1. Section 1008.251, Florida Statutes, is created 17
to read: 18
1008.251 The First Grade Summer Reading Immersion Pilot 19
Program.—Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the First 20
Grade Summer Reading Immersion Pilot Program is created for a 21
period of 3 school years. The purpose of the program is to 22
assist school districts in providing a summer reading immersion 23
program for students who completed grade 1 and who are at risk 24
of having a reading deficiency or exhibit a substantial 25

HB 1123 2026

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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

deficiency in reading. For purposes of the pilot program, a 26
student is deemed to be at risk of having a reading deficiency 27
when he or she scores a level one on the midyear or third 28
administration of the coordinated screening and progress 29
monitoring under s. 1008.25. 30
(1) The Department of Education shall: 31
(a) Select two school districts to participate in the 32
pilot program. 33
(b) Create a first grade summer reading immersion program 34
for school districts to implement each year of the pilot 35
program. The program must: 36
1. Be a minimum of 6 weeks in length. 37
2. Focus on: 38
a. Foundational grade 1 reading skills. 39
b. Phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and 40
reading comprehension. 41
3. Assess student learning gains and reading skills at the 42
conclusion of the program using the first grade final 43
administration of the coordinated screening and progress 44
monitoring or a state-approved diagnostic assessment. 45
(c) Establish reporting requirements for participating 46
school districts. 47
(2) Each participating school district shall: 48
(a) Invite students who have completed grade 1 who are at 49
risk of having a reading deficiency or exhibit a substantial 50

HB 1123 2026

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deficiency in reading to attend the first grade summer reading 51
immersion program. 52
(b) Administer the first grade summer reading immersion 53
program pursuant to department requirements and guidance. 54
(c) Provide the data and information requested by the 55
department. 56
(d) Provide periodic updates to the department on the 57
implementation of the first grade summer reading immersion 58
program. 59
(e) Upon completion of each first grade summer reading 60
immersion program, provide a report on student learning gains 61
and reading skills at the conclusion of the program, including 62
participation rates. 63
(3) Upon the completion of the pilot program, the 64
department shall provide a report to the Legislature. The report 65
must include all of the following: 66
(a) Student outcomes for students who participated in the 67
first grade summer reading immersion program. 68
(b) Rates of student participation in the first grade 69
summer reading immersion program. 70
(c) Policy recommendations for further implementation of 71
first grade summer reading immersion program. 72
(4) This section shall expire upon the submission of the 73
department's report to the Legislature pursuant to subsection 74
(3). 75

HB 1123 2026

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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 76