SB241S1 New Early Childhood Literacy

The Utah State Legislature has approved Senate Bill 241, a comprehensive initiative focused on improving early literacy interventions for public school students in kindergarten through third grade. The legislation establishes a strenuous new statewide goal: to have 80% of third-grade students reading on grade level by July 1, 2030. For students who fall behind testing benchmarks, schools will be required to create individualized reading plans. These collaborative plans will outline specific interventions for struggling readers, which could include specialized tutoring, extended school days, or summer learning programs. Most notably, the bill introduces a strict retention policy: beginning in the 2029-2030 academic year, third graders who do not meet end-of-year reading benchmarks will be required to repeat the grade. There are a few “good cause” exemptions to this rule, such as for English language learners or students with specific disability accommodation plans. To support educators in this massive transition, the bill allocated $16 million in state funding to provide districts with dedicated literacy coaches, training, and reading paraprofessionals in grades K-3. However, educators will also face new accountability measures. A teacher’s or principal’s fluency in and ability to effectively implement the science of reading will now become a required component of their annual performance evaluations. Additionally, schools that fail to meet the state’s third grade reading goals will be forced to redirect at least 50% of their “Teacher and Student Success Program” funding directly toward evidence-based reading interventions. I would personally like to thank Senator Millner and Representative Peterson for the collaborative work with our district in the legislative process. This bill will set the academic reading requirements for the next four years across the state of Utah. I have full confidence that our K-3 teachers and parents can work collectively to meet or exceed the 80% of students reading on grade level by 2030.