SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE, Nos. 2644, 2645, and 2646

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 20, 2024

      The Senate Education Committee favorably reports a Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill Nos. 2644, 2645 and 2646.

      This committee substitute requires the Department of Education to establish a Working Group on Student Literacy, mandates universal literacy screenings for kindergarten through grade three students, and requires professional development for certain school district employees.

      Under the committee substitute, the department is to establish the Working Group on Student Literacy.  The purpose of the working group is to provide recommendations to the department regarding the implementation of evidence-based literacy strategies, appropriate and reliable instruments for a universal literacy screening, and high-quality literacy instructional materials.  The working group is to consist of members appointed by the Commissioner of Education who are to include at least one parent of a student enrolled in a school district, and literacy experts and practitioners with demonstrated success implementing evidenced-based literacy strategies. 

      The working group is to examine and provide recommendations on:

(1)  the body of research related to universal literacy screenings and literacy instruction materials;

      (2)  ways to expand professional learning for universal literacy screenings;

      (3)  acceptable and reliable instruments for conducting universal literacy screenings, which shall consider: constructs measured; technical adequacy; attention to linguistic diversity; and administration usability and support; and

      (4)  State and national best practices, regulations, and policies that support successful foundational literacy instruction, assessment, and intervention.

      The department is to develop and publish guidance for use by school districts beginning with the 2025-2026 school year based on the recommendations of the working group.

      The committee substitute requires a school district to, at least twice annually, conduct a literacy screening of each student enrolled in kindergarten through grade three to determine a student’s reading proficiency using an acceptable and reliable instrument for a universal literacy screening that complies with the guidance issued by the department.  A school district is also required to provide a student any necessary supports as determined by the district, which may include conducting an additional screening. 

      The committee substitute requires a school district to provide written notification to a parent or guardian of a student’s results of the universal literacy screening within 30 days of the close of the initial screening period.  Under the committee substitute, a school district is to report universal literacy screening data to the department in a manner and frequency determined by the commissioner.

      The department is required to establish an online resource center to aid school districts in the selection of evidence-based, high-quality literacy instructional materials, including data analysis tools, as part of the school district’s implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in English Language Arts.

      Finally, the committee substitute requires the department to establish a professional development program regarding evidence-based foundational literacy instruction, which shall be available to all school districts at no cost.  This program is to be differentiated by grade band.  School districts are to use the professional development program established by the committee substitute to provide professional development to certain teaching staff members and school administrators.