Chapter 887 Oregon Laws 2001
AN ACT
SB 595
Relating to reading; and
declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
(1) There is established a pilot program
on elementary school reading instruction. The focus of the pilot program shall
be on integrating instruction methods using explicit phonics into language arts
programs in elementary schools that serve students from low-income families.
The pilot program shall be for the 2001-2002, 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 school
years.
(2) If the Department of
Education obtains funds for the pilot program as described in subsection (7) of
this section, each school district with a weighted average daily membership
(ADMw) of greater than 50,000 shall participate in the pilot program. A school
district board of a participating school district shall select elementary
schools and classrooms for participation in the pilot program. If possible, the
board shall select schools and classrooms that serve students from low-income
families. The board shall determine how to implement the pilot program with
other reading programs that may already exist in the schools and classrooms.
(3) During the 2001-2002
school year, each participating school district shall provide advanced training
to teachers who are currently using explicit phonics in the classroom. Teachers
receiving training under this subsection shall serve as mentors for other
teachers and shall instruct other teachers on the use of explicit phonics in
classrooms.
(4) During the 2002-2003
and 2003-2004 school years, each participating school district shall implement
the pilot program in selected schools and classrooms by incorporating reading
instruction using explicit phonics in the classrooms.
(5)(a) At the end of the
2001-2002 school year, each school district participating in the pilot program
shall report to the interim legislative committees on education on the progress
of the pilot program.
(b) At the end of the
pilot program, each school district participating in the pilot program shall
report to the interim legislative committees on education. The report shall
include:
(A) An evaluation of the
program;
(B) An evaluation of the
program’s impact on the reading level of the students and how those reading
levels compare with similar students from other schools;
(C) Recommendations
about the program;
(D) Costs of the
program; and
(E) Any other relevant
information.
(6) The Department of
Education shall award grants to participating school districts for the pilot
program established under this section. A school district that receives a grant
under this subsection shall use the grant for implementation of the pilot program.
(7) The Department of
Education may seek and accept gifts, grants and donations from any source and
federal funds for the purpose of funding the pilot program.
SECTION 2.
This 2001 Act being necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is
declared to exist, and this 2001 Act takes effect July 1, 2001.
Approved by the Governor
July 31, 2001
Filed in the office of
Secretary of State July 31, 2001
Effective date July 31, 2001
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