SB 6509 - DIGEST

(SUBSTITUTED FOR - SEE 2ND SUB)

     Declares an intent to establish a grant program to provide training in successful reading instruction methods to certificated employees who provide direct reading instructional services to students enrolled in grades one and two.  This grant program shall provide additional training to certificated reading instructional staff so they will possess the knowledge and skills to effectively teach students to read.

     Requires that, starting in the 1998-99 school year, school districts must administer a standardized, nationally norm-referenced test to measure second grade reading skills of second grade students.

     Provides that, for students entering an approved teacher preparation program after June 30, 1996, an approved teacher preparation program for candidates who will be eligible for certification to teach kindergarten to second grade shall include coursework, either separate or a combination of courses, that provides training in systematically explicit phonics instruction, phonemic awareness, sound-symbol relationship, decoding instruction, word-attack skills, spelling and vocabulary instruction, and explicit instruction of comprehensive skills.

     Repeals RCW 28A.300.310, 28A.300.320, 28A.300.330, and 28A.300.340.

     Makes an appropriation of eleven million two hundred thousand dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999, from the general fund to the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of this act.