Read the full stored bill text
Florida Senate
-
2026
SB 1252
By
Senator Jones
34-01025B-26 20261252__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to a pilot program for students with
3 reading deficiencies; creating s. 1008.251, F.S.;
4 creating the First Grade Summer Reading Immersion
5 Pilot Program for a specified period of time;
6 providing the purpose of the pilot program; providing
7 requirements for a student to be deemed at risk of
8 having a reading deficiency; providing Department of
9 Education and participating school district duties;
10 requiring the department to provide a report to the
11 Legislature upon completion of the pilot program;
12 providing requirements for such report; providing for
13 the future repeal of the pilot program; providing an
14 effective date.
15
16 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
17
18 Section 1. Section 1008.251, Florida Statutes, is created
19 to read:
20
1008.251
The First Grade Summer Reading Immersion Pilot
21
Program.—Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the First
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Grade Summer Reading Immersion Pilot Program is created for a
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period of 3 school years. The purpose of the program is to
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assist school districts in providing a summer reading immersion
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program for students who completed grade 1 and are at risk of
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having a reading deficiency or exhibit a substantial deficiency
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in reading. For purposes of the pilot program, a student is
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deemed to be at risk of having a reading deficiency if he or she
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scored a Level 1 on the midyear or the third administration of
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the coordinated screening and progress monitoring under s.
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1008.25.
32
(1)
The Department of Education shall:
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(a)
Select two school districts to participate in the pilot
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program.
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(b)
Create a First Grade Summer Reading Immersion Pilot
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Program for school districts to implement each year of the pilot
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program. The program must:
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1.
Be a minimum of 6 weeks in length.
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2.
Focus on:
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a.
Foundational grade 1 reading skills.
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b.
Phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and
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reading comprehension.
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3.
Assess student learning gains and reading skills at the
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conclusion of the program
using the first grade final
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administration of the coordinated screening and progress
46
monitoring or a state-approved diagnostic assessment.
47
(c)
Establish reporting requirements for participating
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school districts.
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(2)
Each participating school district shall:
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(a)
Invite students who have completed grade 1 who are at
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risk of having a reading deficiency or exhibit a substantial
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deficiency in reading to attend the First Grade Summer Reading
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Immersion Pilot Program.
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(b)
Administer the First Grade Summer Reading Immersion
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Pilot Program pursuant to department requirements and guidance.
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(c)
Provide the data and information requested by the
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department.
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(d)
Provide periodic updates to the department on the
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implementation of the First Grade Summer Reading Immersion Pilot
60
Program.
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(e)
Upon completion of each First Grade Summer Reading
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Immersion Pilot Program, provide a report on student learning
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gains and reading skills at the conclusion of the program,
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including participation rates.
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(3)
Upon the completion of the pilot program, the
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department shall provide a report to the Legislature. The report
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must include all of the following:
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(a)
Student outcomes for students who participated in the
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First Grade Summer Reading Immersion Pilot Program.
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(b)
Rates of student participation in the First Grade
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Summer Reading Immersion Pilot Program.
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(c)
Policy recommendations for further implementation of
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the First Grade Summer Reading Immersion Pilot Program.
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(4)
This section shall expire upon the submission of the
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department’s report to the Legislature pursuant to subsection
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(3).
77 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.