NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A8320
SPONSOR: Jensen TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring certain
teachers who provide literacy instruction obtain a literacy endorsement
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Requires certain teachers who provide literacy instruction obtain a
literacy endorsement.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS::
Section 1. Section 3004 of the education law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 7 to read as follows:
7. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commissioner is
authorized and directed to prescribe regulations establishing a literacy
endorsement as a requirement for all certified teachers who provide
literacy instruction to students in kindergarten through grade five.
Such regulations shall require that teachers receiving certification on
and after January first, two thousand twenty-five who provide literacy
instruction to students in kindergarten through grade five obtain a
literacy endorsement within three years of receiving certification. For
teachers receiving certification before January first, two thousand
twenty-five, the regulations shall require such teachers receive. a
literacy endorsement on or before January first, two thousand twenty-
eight. The literacy endorsement shall require teachers to complete
evidence-based science of reading training and other coursework as
determined by the commissioner and to pass a literacy instruction
assessment demonstrating that the teacher is capable of:
(i) effectively teaching foundational reading skills, phonemic aware-
ness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension;
(ii) implementing reading instruction using high-quality instructional
materials; and
(iii) providing effective instruction and interventions for students
with reading deficiencies, including students with characteristics of
dyslexia.
(b) The commissioner shall require that on and after January first, two
thousand twenty-four, all approved educator preparation programs in
childhood education and early childhood education include courses neces-
sary to obtain a literacy endorsement pursuant to paragraph (a) of this
subdivision.
(c) The commissioner shall establish a means by which a school district,
at the request of a teacher, may receive an exemption to the literacy
endorsement for that teacher based on classroom observations and student
achievement data demonstrating the knowledge of literacy instruction
prescribed in paragraph (a) of this subdivision.
JUSTIFICATION::
Young people are currently in crisis across New York State as we lag the
rest of the nation in literacy education and reading instruction, with
zero state reading laws enacted between 2019 and 2022. If we wish to
meet the challenge head on, we must pursue a legislative solution to
ensure that we focus on appropriate training for evidence-based reading
instruction for our state's teachers. Through expressly identifying the
key reading instruction tactics and skills needed to assist students of
all reading levels and abilities, we can empower our teachers and
students to meeting literacy and reading goals during the early educa-
tion period.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::
EFFECTIVE DATE::
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8320
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
November 27, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. JENSEN -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring certain
teachers who provide literacy instruction obtain a literacy endorse-
ment
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 3004 of the education law is amended by adding a
2 new subdivision 7 to read as follows:
3 7. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commissioner is
4 authorized and directed to prescribe regulations establishing a literacy
5 endorsement as a requirement for all certified teachers who provide
6 literacy instruction to students in kindergarten through grade five.
7 Such regulations shall require that teachers receiving certification on
8 and after January first, two thousand twenty-five who provide literacy
9 instruction to students in kindergarten through grade five obtain a
10 literacy endorsement within three years of receiving certification. For
11 teachers receiving certification before January first, two thousand
12 twenty-five, the regulations shall require such teachers receive a
13 literacy endorsement on or before January first, two thousand twenty-
14 eight. The literacy endorsement shall require teachers to complete
15 evidence-based science of reading training and other coursework as
16 determined by the commissioner and to pass a literacy instruction
17 assessment demonstrating that the teacher is capable of:
18 (i) effectively teaching foundational reading skills, phonemic aware-
19 ness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension;
20 (ii) implementing reading instruction using high-quality instructional
21 materials; and
22 (iii) providing effective instruction and interventions for students
23 with reading deficiencies, including students with characteristics of
24 dyslexia.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13613-01-3
A. 8320 2
1 (b) The commissioner shall require that on and after January first,
2 two thousand twenty-four, all approved educator preparation programs in
3 childhood education and early childhood education include courses neces-
4 sary to obtain a literacy endorsement pursuant to paragraph (a) of this
5 subdivision.
6 (c) The commissioner shall establish a means by which a school
7 district, at the request of a teacher, may receive an exemption to the
8 literacy endorsement for that teacher based on classroom observations
9 and student achievement data demonstrating the knowledge of literacy
10 instruction prescribed in paragraph (a) of this subdivision.
11 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
