STUDENTS: Expands student eligibility for participation in the R.E.A.D. (Reading Enrichment and Academic Deliverables) program (EG +$2,600,000 GF EX See Note)

HLS 26RS-937 ENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 272
BY REPRESENTATIVES CARVER, TERRY LANDRY, MARTINEZ, ST. BLANC, AND
TAYLOR
STUDENTS: Expands student eligibility for participation in the R.E.A.D. (Reading
Enrichment and Academic Deliverables) program
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:4033.1(B)(introductory paragraph) and to enact R.S.
3 17:4033.1(B)(5) and (C)(7), relative to the R.E.A.D. (Reading Enrichment and
4 Academic Deliverables) Program; to expand student eligibility to include all students
5 enrolled in certain schools; to require the state Department of Education to provide
6 for the shipment of books to such schools; to require such schools to distribute books
7 and materials to students; to require the department to make determinations relative
8 to such materials; and to provide for related matters.
9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 17:4033.1(B)(introductory paragraph) is hereby amended and
11 reenacted and R.S. 17:4033.1(B)(5) and (C)(7) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
12 §4033.1. R.E.A.D. Program; establishment; student eligibility; administration;
13 funding
14 * * *
15 B. A public school student who falls into at least one of the following
16 categories is eligible to participate in the program:
17 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-937 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 272
1 (5) The student is enrolled in an elementary school that received a school
2 performance letter grade of "D" or "F" for the most recent school year pursuant to
3 the school and district accountability system as provided in R.S. 17:10.1.
4 C. The department shall administer and provide for the implementation of
5 the program. In administering the program, the department shall:
6 * * *
7 (7)(a) Provide for the quarterly shipment of books directly to each school
8 meeting the criteria provided in Paragraph (B)(5) of this Section, which shall ensure
9 that the books, along with supplemental family literacy resources designed to support
10 at-home reading engagement, are distributed to each student in prekindergarten
11 through fifth grade.
12 (b) Determine the specific content and format of the family literacy
13 resources required by Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph.
14 * * *
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 272 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Carver
Abstract: Expands student eligibility for the R.E.A.D. program to include those attending
"D" or "F" schools and requires the state Dept. of Education to deliver books to these
schools and the schools to distribute books and related materials.
Present law provides for the R.E.A.D. (Reading Enrichment and Academic Deliverables)
Program, administered by the state Dept. of Education (DOE) and established to provide
books to each student who meets one of the following criteria:
(1) He is in prekindergarten and does not score satisfactorily on the literacy section of
the early childhood assessment.
(2) He is in grades K-3 and reads below grade level.
(3) He is in grades 4-5 and scored below mastery in English language arts (ELA) on the
prior school year's state assessment.
(4) His eligibility based on screeners or assessments cannot be determined but he is
recommended by his ELA teacher.
Proposed law extends eligibility to a student who meets any of the present law criteria or is
enrolled at a school that received a performance letter grade of "D" or "F" the most recent
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HLS 26RS-937 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 272
school year. Requires DOE to provide for the quarterly shipment of books directly to such
schools and requires the schools to ensure that books and supplemental resources are
provided to each student. Requires DOE to determine the specific content and format of
such resources.
(Amends R.S. 17:4033.1(B)(intro. para.); Adds R.S. 17:4033.1(B)(5) and (C)(7))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.