AN ACT CONCERNING THE EXPANSION OF THE PILOT STUDY OF BEST PRACTICES IN EARLY LITERACY AND CLOSING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAPS.

Agency Affected	Fund-Effect	FY 13 $	FY 14 $
Education, Dept.	GF - Implements the Budget	1,000,000	See Below
Education, Dept.	GF - Cost	500,000	500,000

Note: GF=General Fund

Municipal Impact: None

Explanation

The bill makes various changes to early literacy and results in $1. 5 million in costs in FY 13, to the State Department of Education (SDE). Of these costs, $1. 0 million is included in sHB 5014, the revised FY 13 budget bill, as favorably reported by the Appropriations Committee. A further explanation of the impact is identified below.

Section 1 expands the existing pilot program for the purposes of promoting best practices in early literacy and closing the academic achievement gap. Currently, there are 11 schools in 6 districts that have enacted this pilot program. sHB 5014, the revised FY 13 budget bill, as favorably reported by the Appropriations Committee, appropriated $1. 0 million for this purpose. The bill does not specify an end date for the pilot program, so it is unclear if the $1. 0 million would be required in FY 14. It is anticipated that this additional funding would allow SDE to pilot this program in 11 additional schools, which must be in the educational reform districts.

Section 2 requires local and regional school districts that have enacted a pilot program, to annually monitor and report on the impacts and outcomes of the program. It is not anticipated that this would result in any additional fiscal impact, as there is existing staff with expertise in this area.

Section 3 requires SDE to develop or approve reading assessments to identify students in kindergarten through grade 3 who are deficient in reading instruction. It is not anticipated that this would result in any additional fiscal impact, as there is existing staff with expertise in this area.

Section 4 requires SDE to identify any local or regional board of education that disproportionately or inappropriately identifies minority students as requiring special education as a result of a reading deficiency. SDE is responsible to report on this requirement and to study local and regional plans to reduce the misidentification of minority students. It is not anticipated that this would result in any additional fiscal impact, as there is existing staff with expertise in this area.

Section 5 requires the Commissioner of Education to develop a program of professional development for reading instruction for teachers. It is estimated that this program would cost approximately $500,000, based on similar professional development programs that have been established. sHB 5014, the revised FY 13 budget bill, as favorably reported by the Appropriations Committee, appropriated $4. 0 million for the purposes of talent development, which included funding for professional development.

The Out Years

The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to inflation.