§24.12. Early literacy professional development; purpose; requirements; reporting; funding

            A. As used in this Section:

            (1) "Administrator" means a principal or assistant principal of a school that includes kindergarten through third grade.

            (2) "Approved professional development course" means a foundational literacy skills instruction course that is based on the science of reading designed for the professional development of educators, and includes information on instructing students regarding phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

            (3) "Teacher" means each kindergarten through third grade teacher who teaches reading, math, science, or social studies.

            B. The state Department of Education shall:

            (1) Not later than December 1, 2021, develop a list of approved professional development courses.

            (2) Not later than the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic year, require each teacher and administrator to successfully complete at least one approved professional development course and provide documentation of successful completion of the course to their employing school. A teacher or administrator who provides documentation of completion of an approved professional development program within the five years prior to 2023 shall be considered in compliance with the provisions of this Paragraph.

            (3) Require any teacher or administrator hired after August 1, 2023, to provide documentation to his employing school of successful completion of an approved professional development course within two years of his date of employment.

            (4)(a) Beginning May 1, 2022, and annually thereafter, require each city, parish, or other local public school board to report to the department the number and percentage of teachers and administrators who have successfully completed an approved professional development course.

            (b) The data required in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph shall be included in the department's school progress profiles required by R.S. 17:3911 and 3912.

            C. Each public school governing authority shall provide for literacy coaches for reading teachers in kindergarten through third grade for the purposes of providing on-site teacher training on evidence-based reading instruction, demonstrating lessons, co-teaching or observation, and providing feedback for improving instruction.

            D. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall adopt rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to implement the provisions of this Section.

            E. The provisions of this Section shall be subject to the appropriation of funds.

            Acts 2021, No. 108, §1, eff. June 4, 2021; Acts 2022, No. 520, §2.

NOTE: See Acts 2021, No. 108, §3, relative to the prohibition on the use of state or obligated federal funds.