§ 115C-83.6A.  (Applicable beginning with the 2022-2023 school year) Approval of literacy intervention plans.

(a) Each local school administrative unit shall submit to the Department of Public Instruction a plan for the literacy interventions it will offer, including reading camps, in the following school year no later than October 1. The plan shall include information about the local school administrative unit's efforts to staff reading camps with the most qualified teachers possible, including the unit's efforts to attract teachers associated with high growth in reading based on EVAAS data and teachers who have earned a reading bonus. The plan shall incorporate any feedback received from the Department on the previous year's plan. As part of their plans, local school administrative units are encouraged to partner with other local school administrative units and with community organizations to enhance literacy interventions.

(b) The Department of Public Instruction shall review each local school administrative unit's plan and approve only those literacy interventions that (i) provide instruction that is closely aligned with the goals and meet the requirements in this Part and (ii) comply with the literacy intervention standards published by the State Board of Education. No later than February 15, the Department shall notify each local school administrative unit of approval or denial of its plan and shall provide feedback if the plan is denied. No later than February 15, the Department shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee on which local school administrative units have literacy intervention plans that were (i) approved and (ii) denied. No later than March 15, if its plan was denied, a local school administrative unit may submit an amended plan to the Department of Public Instruction. The Department shall notify the local school administrative unit if the amended plan is approved or denied no later than April 15.

(c) State-provided literacy intervention funds shall not be released to any local school administrative unit for which a literacy intervention plan has not been approved by the Department of Public Instruction by April 15. Any local school administrative unit denied approval shall use local funds to fulfill the requirement to provide literacy interventions as provided in this Part. (2021-8, s. 6(d).)