,,ii #aahth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cijg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #ab1 #bjbd,mr4 ,heinrich introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to authorize the ,secretary of ,education to carry out a grant program to assist local educational agencies with ensuring that each elementary school and secondary school has at least one reading1 literacy1 or biliteracy specialist on staff4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,literacy ,improvement for ,transformation ,act of #bjbd4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,,esea ,terms ,the terms elementary school1 ,english learner1 institution of higher education1 local educational agency1 multi-tier system of supports1 secondary school1 and ,state educational agency have the meanings given those terms in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#b7 ,,idea ,terms ,the terms child with a disability1 individualized education program or ,,iep1 special education1 and specific learning disability have the meanings given those terms in section #fjb of the ,individuals with ,disabilities ,education ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #adja74 7#c7 ,bilingual ,the term bilingual means a program that makes instructional use of both ,english and a child's native language4 7#d7 ,biliteracy ,the term biliteracy means the ability to read and write with high levels of proficiency in #b languages through the appropriate and effective use of grammatical1 syntactic1 graphophonic1 semantic1 and pragmatic systems of the #b languages4 7#e7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a local educational agency2 7,b7 a partnership between a ,state educational agency and one or more local educational agencies in the ,state1 entered into for the purposes of a grant under this section2 7,c7 a nonprofit entity with expertise in reading intervention or specific learning disabilities1 in partnership with a ,state educational agency or one or more local educational agencies2 7,d7 a school operated by the ,bureau of ,indian ,education or operated by an ,indian tribe1 or an organization controlled or sanctioned by an ,indian tribal government1 for the children of that tribe under a contract with1 or grant from1 the ,department of the ,interior under the ,indian ,self-,determination ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecba et seq47 or the ,tribally ,controlled ,schools ,act of #aihh 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #beja et seq472 or 7,e7 an institution of higher education 7including a ,tribal ,college or ,university 7as defined in section #caf of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajei;c774 7#f7 ,english language development ,the term ,english language development means instruction designed specifically for ,english language learners to develop their listening1 speaking1 reading1 and writing skills in ,english4 ,english language development instruction may include ,english as a ,second ,language1 ,english for ,speakers of ,other ,languages1 ,english as a ,new ,language1 ,english ,language ,learner instruction1 and ,english ,learner instruction4 7#g7 ,high-need local educational agency ,the term high-need local educational agency has the meaning given such term in section #bjj of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajba74 7#h7 ,reading1 literacy1 or biliteracy specialist ,the term reading1 literacy1 or biliteracy specialist means a certified professional-- 7,a7 whose primary responsibility is working with students who struggle with reading and writing2 7,b7 who has completed additional certifications or course of study and is able to demonstrate the ability to implement intervention strategies for the building of reading and literacy or biliteracy skills2 and 7,c7 who may also be referred to as an interventionist1 reading teacher1 or by an alternative title4 7#i7 ,section #ejd ,plan ,the term section #ejd plan means a reasonable accommodation developed for students with disabilities to receive the appropriate educational support services to fully participate in school activities and have equal access to educational opportunities1 in accordance with section #ejd of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gid74 7#aj7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,education4 7#aa7 ,subgroup of students ,the term subgroup of students means-- 7,a7 each major racial and ethnic group2 7,b7 economically disadvantaged students as compared to students who are not economically disadvantaged2 7,c7 children with disabilities as compared to children without disabilities2 7,d7 ,english proficiency status2 and 7,e7 gender4 #c4 ,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is to assist ,state educational agencies and local educational agencies with ensuring that every elementary school and secondary school has at least one full-time certified reading1 literacy1 or biliteracy specialist on staff1 and to support the recruitment1 hiring1 retention1 and development of certified reading1 literacy1 or biliteracy specialists4 #d4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,according to the ,annie ,e4 ,casey ,foundation1 children who struggle to read proficiently by fourth grade are #d times more likely to not graduate from high school than their peers with grade-level reading skills4 7#b7 ,according to the #bjbb ,national ,assessment of ,educational ,progress1 #cc percent of fourth graders and #ca percent of eighth graders scored at or above proficient in ,english reading4 ,in #bjai1 #cg percent of twelfth graders scored at or above proficient in ,english reading4 7#c7 ,in #bjbb1 #ff percent of fourth graders and #fi percent of eighth graders scored at or below the ,national ,assessment of ,educational ,progress ,basic ,english reading level4 7#d7 ,according to leading researchers ,thomas and ,collier1 students that have access to high-quality bilingual instruction tend to exhibit higher educational outcomes long-term1 as demonstrated by academic performance and engagement1 than their peers who are not enrolled in bilingual programs4 #e4 ,literacy improvement and transformation grant program 7a7 ,grant program authorized 7#a7 ,in ,general ,the ,secretary shall establish a program to award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to eligible entities to carry out the activities described under subsection 7d74 7#b7 ,duration ,grants awarded under this section shall be for a period of #e years4 7b7 ,application ,an eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 including-- 7#a7 a needs assessment of the eligible entity that demonstrates the existence of persistent shortages of reading1 literacy1 or bilteracy specialists or persistent shortages of full-time reading1 literacy1 or biliteracy specialists2 7#b7 demographic information about the student population served by the eligible entity1 disaggregated 7to the extent that such information complies with applicable privacy law and protects personally identifiable information71 by-- 7,a7 subgroups of students and grade level2 and 7,b7 status as a student that-- 7i7 has a section #ejd plan2 7ii7 has an ,,iep2 and 7iii7 is an ,english learner2 7#c7 a description of the relevant academic needs of the student population served by the eligible entity1 including-- 7,a7 the ratio of reading and literacy specialists to whole student population2 and 7,b7 an overview of student performance related to reading1 literacy1 and comprehension on formative and summative reading assessments1 standardized tests1 and district and ,state benchmarks1 including such information disaggregated 7to the extent that such information complies with applicable privacy law and protects personally identifiable information71 by-- 7i7 subgroups of students and grade level2 and 7ii7 status as a student that-- 7,i7 has a section #ejd plan2 7,,ii7 has an ,,iep2 and 7,,iii7 is an ,english learner2 7#d7 graduation rates1 attendance data1 and disciplinary data 7as determined by the ,secretary71 disaggregated 7to the extent that such information complies with applicable privacy law and protects personally identifiable information7 by-- 7,a7 subgroups of students and grade level2 and 7,b7 status as a student that-- 7i7 has a section #ejd plan2 7ii7 has an ,,iep2 and 7iii7 is an ,english learner2 7#e7 a comprehensive plan for the use of grant funds to address persistent shortages described in the needs assessment under paragraph 7#a71 including a description of-- 7,a7 how grant funds will be used in accordance with subsection 7d72 7,b7 how such activities will improve or strengthen intervention strategies2 and 7,c7 how such funds will be used to ensure that the eligible entity will continue to employ and retain reading1 literacy1 or bilteracy specialists after the completion of the grant period2 7#f7 a description of how the eligible entity will prioritize recruiting individuals from the communities served by the eligible entity and from underrepresented populations in the field of education 7as determined by the ,secretary by regulation7 to serve as full-time reading1 literacy1 or bilteracy specialists1 and how the eligible entity will track progress in meeting any specified hiring goals2 7#g7 an assurance that the eligible entity will ensure compliance with the requirement described in subsection 7e72 7#h7 a description of how the eligible entity is meeting the literacy and second language acquisition needs of ,english learners through ,english language development1 ,english as a ,second ,language1 or bilingual program offerings2 7#i7 an assurance that the second language development needs of ,english learners will not result in ,english learners being placed in remedial reading courses2 and 7#aj7 an assurance that ,native ,american ,english learners whose home language is orally based are not disadvantaged when those ,english learners begin to learn ,english1 especially by providing an assurance of culturally and linguistically responsive1 engaging1 and evidence-based strategies that promote student success4 7c7 ,selection and priority ,in awarding grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 give a first priority to eligible entities that are located in a ,state that is in the lowest quartile of ,states1 in a ranking of all ,states1 ranked in descending order by the percentage of students in grades #d and #h in the ,state who score at or above a level of ,proficient on the ,national ,assessment of ,educational ,progress reading assessments for students in grades #d and #h2 and 7#b7 if the priority in paragraph 7#a7 has been satisfied1 or if no applicants described in paragraph 7#a7 apply1 then the ,secretary shall give priority to applicants that-- 7,a7 are a high-need local educational agency1 or are a partnership between a ,state educational agency and a consortium of high-need local educational agencies2 and 7,b7 describe and set specific hiring goals towards increasing the share of reading1 literacy1 or bilteracy specialists who are from underrepresented populations in the field of education4 7d7 ,activities ,grant funds awarded under this section shall be used by an eligible entity to carry out one or more of the following activities3 7#a7 ,recruiting1 hiring1 and developing full-time reading1 literacy1 or biliteracy specialists4 7#b7 ,providing resources necessary to support the development of reading1 literacy1 or biliteracy specialists from a part-time to full-time capacity at elementary schools or secondary schools served by the eligible entity1 including through full funding for teachers who are employed by the eligible entity at the time of the grant to earn an evidence-based reading1 literacy1 or biliteracy specialist certification from an accredited institution of higher education4 7#c7 ,supporting the retention of reading1 literacy1 or biliteracy specialists1 including by increasing salaries4 7#d7 ,ensuring that at least #a full-time reading1 literacy1 or biliteracy specialist is on staff at each elementary school and secondary school served by the eligible entity4 7#e7 ,supporting biliteracy development1 teaching1 and assessment strategies4 7#f7 ,providing continual professional development opportunities regarding reading difficulties in students with disabilities1 including how to identify reading disabilities in students with other diagnoses4 7e7 ,requirement2 ,rule of ,construction 7#a7 ,requirement ,each grant recipient shall ensure that any reading1 literacy1 or biliteracy specialist whose position is partially or fully funded by grant funds spends not less than #hj percent of their time in that position working with teachers and students to improve student outcomes4 7#b7 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this ,act shall be construed to limit the preservation or use of ,native ,american languages4 7f7 ,report ,each eligible entity awarded a grant under this section shall submit to the ,secretary an annual report for each year of the grant award4 ,such report shall include-- 7#a7 a summary of the eligible entity's progress in employing at least #a full-time reading1 literacy1 or biliteracy specialist at each elementary school and secondary school served by the eligible entity2 7#b7 data on the number of full-time and part-time reading1 literacy1 or biliteracy specialists1 disaggregated by major racial and ethnic groups and gender1 employed at each elementary school and secondary school served by the eligible entity1 and data on the ratio of students to reading1 literacy1 or bilteracy specialists at each such school2 7#c7 a summary of any progress made by the eligible entity in addressing reading1 literacy1 and comprehension1 as identified in the needs assessment required under subsection 7b77#b71 as a result of the activities carried out with a grant under this section2 and 7#d7 a summary of the number of students in each subgroup of students who were served by the reading1 literacy1 or biliteracy specialist 7to the extent that such information complies with applicable privacy law and protects personally identifiable information74