Chapter 22D. Structured Literacy Action Plan.

§ 38–2261. Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, the term:

(1) "DCPS" means the District of Columbia Public Schools.

(2) "ELL" means English Language Learner.

(3) "EPP" means Education Preparation Provider.

(4) "Literacy educator" means a DCPS English Language Arts instructional coach, English Language Arts assistant principal, general instructional coach, literacy assistant principal, or reading specialist.

(5) "OSSE" means the Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

(6) "Public charter school" shall have the same meaning as provided in § 38-1800.02(29).

(7) "Structured literacy training" means professional development instruction on:

(A) Effective and systematic instructional practices in reading, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension; and

(B) The use of empirically validated instructional methods that are appropriate for early, emergent, and struggling readers.

(8) "Public elementary school" means a District school that is either a DCPS school or a public charter school and that serves any grades in the kindergarten through grade 5 range.

(9) "General education teacher" means a teacher who is responsible for providing instruction in one or all of the following subjects:

(A) Reading;

(B) Social Studies;

(D) Science.

§ 38–2262. Structured literacy training for DCPS.

(a) Starting no later than November 1, 2022, DCPS shall provide all literacy educators serving DCPS students in kindergarten through grade 5 who have not already completed structured literacy training, the opportunity to receive at least 45 hours of structured literacy training over 2 consecutive years.

(b) Literacy educators shall receive a $2,000 stipend for participation in structured literacy training if they are not provided the training during school hours.

§ 38–2263. Early Literacy Education Task Force establishment.

(a)(1) Starting no later than December 1, 2022, OSSE shall convene a task force of District government agency representatives, which shall be known as the Early Literacy Education Task Force ("task force"). The task force shall include representatives from the following District government agencies:

(A) OSSE;

(B) DCPS;

(D) State Board of Education; and

(E) Deputy Mayor for Education.

(2) The Chairman of the Council shall appoint a Council representative to the task force.

(b)(1) The task force shall submit an early literacy education report to the Mayor and Council by September 30, 2023.

(2) The report shall identify implementable steps to accomplish the following in 4 years:

(A) Provide all public elementary school general education teachers, special education teachers, ELL teachers, and librarians, at least 45 hours of structured literacy training over 2 years;

(B) Provide ELL teachers serving public elementary school students the option to receive bilingual structured literacy training;

(C) Provide all public elementary school administrators, instructional coaches, and EPP faculty responsible for evaluating or providing instructional support to general education teachers, with structured literacy training, including the option to receive specialized administrator structured literacy training;

(D) Establish a mechanism for tracking public elementary school teacher and school leader completion of 45 hours of structured literacy training;

(E) Ensure all public elementary school instructional staff have access to and use culturally responsive, high-quality instructional materials reviewed by an expert review organization to ensure alignment with District of Columbia Common Core State English and Language Arts standards; and

(F) Provide all public elementary school teachers access to on-the-job support from an expert in structured literacy training.

(3) The report shall further:

(A) Identify one literacy training program vendor to provide training to all trainees or provide justification of why more than one vendor is needed and how the structured literacy training provided by multiple vendors complement one another; and

(B) Recommend whether it is advisable to provide pre-kindergarten educators and educators serving DCPS and public charter school students above grade 5 with structured literacy training in future years.

(c) The task force shall meet every 6 weeks until it submits the report required pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.

(d) The task force shall not be considered a public body for purposes of subchapter IV of Chapter 5 of Title 2.