PRINTER'S NO. 854
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
878
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY GUZMAN, MADDEN, BOROWSKI, SCHLOSSBERG, HILL-EVANS,
HANBIDGE, SANCHEZ, MALAGARI, KHAN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, CIRESI,
OTTEN, DONAHUE, WAXMAN, PROBST, BURGOS, PIELLI, KAZEEM,
BELLMON AND HADDOCK, APRIL 10, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 10, 2023
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," establishing the Read to Succeed
Program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding an
article to read:
ARTICLE XV-N
READ TO SUCCEED PROGRAM
Section 1501-N. Establishment of program.
The Read to Succeed Program is established within the
Department of Education. The Read to Succeed Program shall
provide competitive grants to school districts and charter
schools to build strong reading skills in Pennsylvania students.
The Read to Succeed Program shall emphasize students with the
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greatest need for intensive reading instruction and school
programs that will enable students to learn to read by the end
of the third grade.
Section 1502-N. Eligibility requirements.
(a) Eligibility.--The Department of Education shall
establish eligibility criteria to be used to select schools and
students in kindergarten through third grade to participate in
the Read to Succeed Program.
(b) Matching requirements.--The Secretary of Education shall
establish matching requirements for grant recipients under the
Read to Succeed Program.
Section 1503-N. Program requirements.
School districts and charter schools shall apply for grants
under the Read to Succeed Program in a manner determined by the
Department of Education. The application shall contain the
following:
(1) Identification of students with the greatest need.
(2) Methods of ongoing assessment.
(3) Reading instruction based on current reading
research.
(4) Integration with the reading instruction programs
and activities of the school district.
(5) Professional development plan.
(6) Opportunities for extended learning time.
(7) Coordination with community-based reading
activities, including family literacy programs.
(8) Staff and program facilities.
(9) A multiyear plan that shows how the school district
or charter school will assume full financial and programmatic
responsibility for the Read to Succeed Program at the
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conclusion of the grant period.
(10) The estimated budget for each specific program
activity.
Section 1504-N. Technical assistance and monitoring.
The Department of Education shall provide technical
assistance and establish methods to ensure the quality of the
school program receiving a grant, including program monitoring
and onsite visitation.
Section 1505-N. Reports.
(a) Reports.--A school district or charter school
participating in the Read to Succeed Program shall provide
program and fiscal reports as required by the Department of
Education.
(b) Submission.--Beginning in 2023, the Department of
Education shall submit a report on the Read to Succeed Program
by December 31 of each year to the chair and minority chair of
the Education Committee of the Senate and the chair and minority
chair of the Education Committee of the House of
Representatives.
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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