An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in evidence-based reading instruction, further providing for definitions, providing for school entity duties related to evidence-based reading instruction, for school entity duties related to reading screening, for reading deficiency identification and parental notification, for reading intervention plans, for grant program, for funding, for reporting, for accountability and for construction.

PRINTER'S NO. 1557
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 684
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY ORTITAY, FLEMING, MARCELL, JAMES, FREEMAN,
M. MACKENZIE, KHAN, CUTLER, DONAHUE, MENTZER, NEILSON, DALEY,
GREEN, MADDEN, STAATS, WHITE, FIEDLER, D. WILLIAMS, WEBSTER,
GAYDOS, SMITH-WADE-EL, KOZAK, VENKAT AND KUTZ, APRIL 30, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MAY 1, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in evidence-based reading
instruction, further providing for definitions, providing for
school entity duties related to evidence-based reading
instruction, for school entity duties related to reading
screening, for reading deficiency identification and parental
notification, for reading intervention plans, for grant
program, for funding, for reporting, for accountability and
for construction.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1501-N of the act of March 10, 1949
(P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, is
amended by adding a definition to read:
Section 1501-N. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
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"Parent." An individual who has legal custody or
guardianship of a student.
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Section 2. The act is amended by adding sections to read:
Section 1503-N. School entity duties related to evidence-based
reading instruction.
A school entity shall do all of the following beginning with
the 2026-2027 school year:
(1) Adopt an evidence-based reading instruction
curriculum.
(2) Approve a professional development training program
from a list developed by the council, that satisfies the
requirements under section 1205.8(c) for educators providing
reading instruction.
(3) Identify an educator responsible for assisting each
school with the implementation of the curriculum adopted
under paragraph (1).
(4) Demonstrate that each educator responsible for
providing reading instruction or coaching is in the process
of completing approved professional development under
paragraph (2). An educator must complete approved
professional development training under paragraph (2) no
later than the beginning of the 2028-2029 school year.
Section 1504-N. School entity duties related to reading
screening.
(a) General rule.--A school entity shall do all of the
following beginning with the 2026-2027 school year:
(1) Screen each student enrolled in kindergarten through
third grade for reading competency three times each school
year, once at the beginning of the school year, once during
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the middle of the year and once at the end of the school
year. In conducting the screening, the school entity shall
use a universal reading screener chosen from the list of
approved universal reading screeners under section 1502-N(b).
(2) Provide educators time during the contractual school
day to complete data entry and compilation associated with
the screener, to communicate with families and carry out any
other responsibility required under this section.
(b) Exception.--Students with limited English proficiency,
students with disabilities and gifted students are subject to
the requirements of this section, unless the assessment would
conflict with the educational program, plan or service agreement
provided in accordance with Federal or State law and regulation.
Section 1505-N. Reading deficiency identification and parental
notification.
(a) Student.--A student in kindergarten through grade three
shall be identified as having a reading deficiency if an
approved universal reading screener administered under section
1504-N identifies the student at risk for reading failure.
(b) Reading deficiency.--A student who is identified as
having a reading deficiency under subsection (a) shall remain
identified as having a reading deficiency until the student
performs at or above an identified threshold level using at
least three data points, which may include:
(1) results on a universal reading screener;
(2) the educator's professional judgment on a student's
performance;
(3) progress monitoring outcomes;
(4) diagnostic assessments;
(5) benchmark assessments; and
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(6) formative or summative assessments.
(c) Parental notification.--A school entity shall notify, in
writing or electronically:
(1) Each parent of a kindergarten student who exhibits a
deficiency in reading in the third screening at the end of
the school year.
(2) Each parent of a first through third grade student
who exhibits a deficiency in reading during the school year
after the identification of the reading deficiency, including
periodic updates three times per year regarding the student's
progress.
(d) Construction.--Nothing under this section shall be
construed to prohibit a school entity from identifying a student
in another grade level as being in need of reading
interventions.
Section 1506-N. Reading intervention plans.
(a) Duty of school entity.--A school entity shall offer a
reading intervention plan to each student in kindergarten
through grade three who is identified as having a reading
deficiency under section 1505-N with the goal of ensuring that
the student can read at or above grade level by the end of grade
three.
(b) Development.--The reading intervention plan shall be
developed by an educator.
(c) Contents.--The reading intervention plan shall, at a
minimum, include reading intervention approaches and be provided
in addition to:
(1) instruction provided to each student in the general
education classroom; and
(2) evidence-based instruction curriculum.
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Section 1507-N. Grant program.
(a) Establishment.--The department shall establish a grant
program to aid school entities with costs associated with
training and other resources necessary to implement this
article. The total amount of grants awarded shall be limited to
funds appropriated for this purpose under section 1508-N.
(b) Application.--The department shall develop an
application form that school entities must use to apply for a
grant under the program. Grant applications must be submitted in
accordance with guidelines developed by the department.
Section 1508-N. Funding.
The department shall use the following funding sources to
award grants to school entities and administer the program,
including providing professional coaching and contracting with
multiple service providers to provide coaching support in the
program as required under section 1205.8:
(1) Appropriations to the department for the purpose of
this article.
(2) Appropriations to the department for general
government operations.
(3) Money made available to the department from other
public and private sources, including the Federal Government.
Section 1509-N. Reporting.
(a) School entity report.--Beginning September 30, 2027, and
continuing each September 30 thereafter, a school entity shall
report annually to the department the following:
(1) The number and percentage of students, disaggregated
by grade and by individual school, identified with a
potential reading deficiency at the beginning of the school
year according to the first screening of the school year
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required under section 1504-N and the literacy intervention
approaches provided.
(2) The number and percentage of students, disaggregated
by grade and by individual school, identified with a
potential reading deficiency at the end of the school year
according to the final screening of the school year required
under section 1504-N.
(3) The number of students, disaggregated by grade and
by individual school, excepted from the assessment under
section 1504-N(b).
(4) The evidence-based reading instruction curricula
adopted under this article by the school entity.
(5) The number of educators in the school entity who
have received professional development under section 1502-
N(b)(3) and the type of professional development received.
(b) Department report.--Beginning November 30, 2027, and
continuing each November 30 thereafter, the department shall
produce an annual report that provides the information reported
to the department under subsection (a).
(c) Report data.--Data included in the report shall be
deidentified and comply with 20 U.S.C. § 1232g (relating to
family educational and privacy rights).
(d) Public posting.--The department shall post the report
required under this section on the department's publicly
accessible Internet website, and shall submit the report to each
of the following:
(1) The Governor.
(2) The State Board of Education.
(3) The President pro tempore of the Senate.
(4) The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
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(5) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Education Committee of the Senate.
(6) The chairperson and minority chairperson of the
Education Committee of the House of Representatives.
Section 1510-N. Accountability.
(a) Duties of the department.--The department shall monitor
and enforce school entity compliance with this article as
follows:
(1) Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, and
continuing each school year thereafter, the department shall
develop a plan to monitor progress of a school entity's
structured literacy program to ensure improved educational
outcomes.
(2) If a school entity is not in compliance with this
article or its students are not demonstrating progress in
reading skills or proficiency, the department shall implement
appropriate and evidence-based corrective actions, including
literacy coaches and other resources.
(b) Effect of noncompliance.--A school entity that declines
department assistance under subsection (a) forfeits grant
funding under this article.
Section 1511-N. Construction.
Nothing in this article shall be construed to supersede or
preempt the rights, remedies and procedures afforded to school
employees or labor organizations under Federal or State law or
any provision of a collective bargaining agreement negotiated
between a school employer and an exclusive representative of the
employees in accordance with the act of July 23, 1970 (P.L.563,
No.195), known as the Public Employe Relations Act.
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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