S438 - Excellent Public Schools Act of 2019. (Ratified)

Overview: SB 438 would make various changes to the North Carolina Read to Achieve Program, including the following:

• Establish individual reading plans, effective with the 2020-2021 school year.
• Establish a Digital Children's Reading Initiative, effective with the 2020-2021 school year.
• Establish a Comprehensive Plan to Improve Literacy Instruction (Comprehensive Plan).
• Effective July 1, 2020, require the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) to prioritize and provide aligned professional development in early learning and literacy instruction.
• Effective July 1, 2020, for approval or renewals of programs, require educator preparation programs to provide literacy training in programs for elementary education teachers.
• Require the literacy curriculum and instruction provided by local school administrative units to align with Read to Achieve and the Comprehensive Plan for implementation in the 2022-2023 school year.
• Effective for the 2020-2021 school year, require approval of plans for local reading camps.
• Study phasing out some alternative assessments for third grade reading.
• Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, create a uniform reporting structure for Read to Achieve data.
• Provide for continuing education credits related to literacy for certain reading camp instructors and allow certain retired teachers to serve as reading camp instructors.
• Effective July 1, 2019, expand the Wolfpack WORKS program.

SB 438 was ratified by the General Assembly on August 13, 2019, and vetoed by the Governor on August 23, 2019.