[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6347068,"mediaKeyId","2246063-bff12aa5107948fa52b48548ee768b68","parentId",2246063,"title","Sen. Martine LaRocque Gulick introduces bill to clarify literacy law screening and supports beyond K–3","audioSeconds",868,"startMs",30000,"endMs",898000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246063-bff12aa5107948fa52b48548ee768b68&start=30&end=898","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246063-bff12aa5107948fa52b48548ee768b68/thumbnail_30000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6347068/Vermont/Sen-Martine-LaRocque-Gulick-introduces-bill-to-clarify-literacy-law-screening-and-supports-beyond-K3","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6347068-19bce289a5f6a2d658b75b7113515993/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507626&Signature=QKuEpHZtovq9Dle2l0qujNmmyyu0zGkFN1wwwPYHzAZeNnjptQXgIEKc0dwjs~l4eI7SRyNyP31mTiRPl-eGE-yKHz37RTuZLnInGqbZw9KIxj6W9eon~5kJq7yFxWwS~gkE42brRYveDNYhwh8w0aH-guCc1Qoimerp5TmrtVFSLw2kJsE6~dDw3o9cA8mR9m9Aiimb1g6dVry8v041c-qorOF90UvYH-4CXWGCtEpwV57s5LSzxz2nzcB2Z7dgfiRTiUrkD63PF5YLK8qeME6X65~d~v7fS0vc~OguqhrwiOxQlZqcUnzSLoEVdDOEWIQe5FGPaTh~zv6Is79z9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-06T19:58:52Z","article","Senator Martine LaRocque Gulick, sponsor of S.15, told the Education Committee on Feb. 6 that the bill is intended to correct a wording ambiguity in last year’s literacy legislation so required follow-up reading supports are not limited to kindergarten through third grade. \"This bill is really focusing on the science of reading and instruction that's based in science and, you know, brain science and so on,\" she said.

The change targets one word in the statute that committee members said has caused confusion in schools. Under current law, screening for reading deficiencies like dyslexia was emphasized for K–3; a sentence that followed used the word \"such\" to refer back to schools with K–3 programs when describing who must provide supplemental reading instruction. Supporters said implementers interpreted that phrase to limit the follow-up requirement to K–3. S.15 would replace that phrasing so the requirement applies to \"all public schools and approved independent schools that are eligible to receive public tuition.\" Beth St. James of the Office of Legislative Counsel walked the committee through the statutory placement of the change and its narrow scope, saying \"the only change is on page 3, starting on line 8 and ending on line 9.\"

Committee members pressed on practical implications. Sponsors and members noted K–3 is a critical period when \"you learn to read\" and that screening was intended to identify students who need supports; at the same time they asked the committee to take testimony from educators about rollout and interpretation. Senator LaRocque Gulick said the committee should hold hearings to hear how the statutory language has been applied in practice and how the change might affect implementation.

Legislative counsel characterized the amendment as a substantive change to the statutory requirements rather than a mere technical correction; the sponsor said the legislative intent had been to provide supports beyond K–3 but that the language in current statute had created uncertainty for districts and independent schools. Counsel also noted portions of the statute cited in the bill are part of Title 16 provisions on preventing early school failure and that the underlying screening and determination mechanisms remain located elsewhere in statute.

No formal vote or committee action occurred; the item was introduced and committee members discussed taking testimony and next steps for consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Education 2025-02-06 3:00pm","oneSentenceSummary","Senator Martine LaRocque Gulick, sponsor of S.15, told the Education Committee on Feb. 6 that the bill corrects ambiguous wording in last year’s literacy law so required supplemental reading support is not limited to kindergarten through third grade.","taxTitle","Education, SENATE, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",37663,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6347063,"Sen. Terry Williams introduces S.21 to ban student phones during school day and bar required social media use",0,858000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246063-bff12aa5107948fa52b48548ee768b68&start=858&end=858","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246063-bff12aa5107948fa52b48548ee768b68/thumbnail_858000.jpg","/articles/6347063/Vermont/Sen-Terry-Williams-introduces-S21-to-ban-student-phones-during-school-day-and-bar-required-social-media-use","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6347063-0a73ae1d74a34a5df29bf899760b7b6e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507626&Signature=fhfA3FH4fe79p5qHuRkruyXnj0zuo4FQY0bG~X9-G7Fm~96vQfVubkP5atwdN2YrA4jU3rLZDmfIqS77SugQJIlz29nQcV7WKBzpQDjVtFvnhA2dORKieAiUIHuGpFgrntxRaVR6qf47EHtJhPTiKZAfA3r-mFY0tXU~PZixVDCfmDEJmBUfp7xEGn5smIruMXDxBeainV-4mYHlnGwm4y5q1jpIeKVUozfM1f5fQCrDpDE755-aY1bfQ8dod1wLSBO8V7XijTs5BqP5vM6z~q3KvUEdz6ajG6X7eySzsEmvlJmY2M6zH5sy~Kw5aCs58goJwWptJ7berHKFMY6ESw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Terry Williams (Rutland District) introduced S.21 to the Education Committee on Feb. 6, proposing statewide \"bell-to-bell\" policies that would prohibit student possession and use of cell phones and personal electronic devices from arrival to dismissal and bar schools from requiring or integrating social media for communication with students. \"This bill has 2 main provisions. First, it directs all of our schools public and independent to adopt and implement a policy prohibiting the use of cell phones and personal electronic devices during the entirety of a school day,\" Williams said.

Williams framed the bill as responding to student mental-health concerns and classroom distraction, citing survey findings that many students use social media several times daily and that health authorities have recommended limits. He described the policy as easing the policing burden on teachers and called the approach \"bell to bell\" so the rule applies from the arrival bell to the dismissal bell. The bill includes two explicit exceptions: approved medical use (supported by documentation from a licensed physician or APRN) and uses required by an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan.

Beth St. James of the Office of Legislative Counsel walked the committee through the bill text and definitions, noting the proposal creates a new subchapter in Title 16 and provides precise definitions for \"cell phone,\" \"electronic device,\" \"social media,\" \"school,\" and \"student.\" She told the committee that the bill’s findings and a general effective-date provision would take effect on July 1 but that the device-policy and social-media prohibitions are written to take effect on Dec. 1, 2025. \"The social media, prohibitions would not take effect until 12/01/2025,\" she said.

Members asked practical questions about costs and implementation. The sponsor said low-cost storage options exist and that districts need flexibility to choose methods (examples cited in committee discussion included device lockers or inexpensive pouches). Members and counsel discussed statutory wording choices — whether to use permissive language (\"may\"), a directive (\"shall\"), or other formulations — and the counsel recommended avoiding language such as \"should\" because it creates ambiguity about legal obligations.

The proposal also prohibits schools and supervisory unions from using social media to communicate directly with students or from requiring students to use social media for school activities, homework, sports teams, clubs, or other school-sponsored activities. Counsel clarified the bill text addresses communication with students; it does not, as written in the provision reviewed, prohibit communication between schools and parents via social media. No formal vote was taken; the item was introduced and the committee discussed taking testimony and policy details.","Sen. Terry Williams told the Education Committee S.21 would require \"bell-to-bell\" phone-free policies in Vermont schools, bar schools from requiring or using social media to communicate directly with students, and include medical and IEP exceptions; legislative counsel explained statutory definitions, scope, and phased effective dates.","actionData","errors"]

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Sen. Martine LaRocque Gulick introduces bill to clarify literacy law screening and supports beyond K–3

Sen. Terry Williams introduces S.21 to ban student phones during school day and bar required social media use