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Committee briefed on literacy law: universal K–3 screeners, reporting and AOE guidance due Jan. 25
Summary
The panel received an overview of Act 139 (literacy), which requires AOE to review and publish guidance on universal reading screeners for K–3, mandates annual screening and follow-up for schools eligible for public tuition, expands literacy planning and reporting, and extends the literacy advisory council sunset to 2027.
Belle St. James of the Office of Legislative Council briefed the committee that Act 139 requires the Agency of Education to review and publish guidance on universal reading screeners and expects schools eligible to receive public tuition to screen all K–3 students at least annually. The agency must also collect and report screening data and recommend family notification formats for significantly below-benchmark results; St. James said AOE must publish its list of reviewed screeners by Jan. 25.
The law obliges approved independent schools that accept public tuition to develop grade-appropriate literacy plans informed by assessment data. Public schools already have statutory requirements for literacy instruction and more extensive planning requirements that are implemented via AOE guidance; Act 139 adds professional learning expectations for K–3 teachers and directs AOE to advise the Vermont Standards Board for Professional Educators on strengthening teacher preparation in evidence-based literacy practices.
Nut graf: The statute ties screening to required follow-up: schools that screen must provide supplemental evidence-based reading instruction and progress monitoring for students who screen significantly below benchmarks. St. James said the term "significantly below" is used in screeners and will depend in practice on the approved screener thresholds; she noted the screener approval process will clarify operational definitions.
Committee conversation and next steps: Members asked whether the law applies beyond K–3; St. James said the screening requirement is clearly K–3 but the scope of supplemental requirements and whether to expand instruction expectations beyond K–3 may be the subject of future bills. The advisory council on literacy’s prospective repeal was extended from June 2024 to June 2027; the act also made certain temporary AOE literacy positions permanent and charged the Department of Libraries with a report on expanding early childhood literacy resources.
Implementation note: St. James recommended ongoing conversations with AOE about screener selection and family notification practices; the committee will schedule follow-up briefings and may consider further statutory clarifications.
