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Senate panel adopts amendment to tie school reading support plans to accountability for NSLP spending
Summary
An amendment to SB 349 requires ADE and districts to develop literacy plans for schools with large shares of students scoring in need of support on reading assessments and sunsets an approved-program list so ADE, educators and the legislature can set new NSLP funding guidelines by mid-2022.
Little Rock — Lawmakers advanced a bill and amendment focused on directing schools’ spending and supports toward reading improvement and clarifying the role of National School Lunch Act funds in literacy plans.
Sen. Clark, sponsor of SB 349, said the measure aims to ensure schools use targeted resources and evidence-based reading instruction to improve outcomes for students in grades 3–10. The bill sets tiered support levels (level 3 coordinated support and level 4 directed support) for districts with high shares of students flagged as needing reading support and requires public-school-district literacy plans that prioritize funds for reading strategies.
An amendment adopted during the hearing sunsets the state board’s prior list of approved programs on June 30, 2022, and directs ADE and educators to collaborate on new guidelines. Supporters, including parent advocates and one FOI requester who reviewed NSLP expenditures, said accountability over NSLP expenditures is needed; some administrators urged more time to study the amendment and to avoid unintended sanctions for districts with contractual obligations.
Sen. Clark said the measure is intended to help students, not to take funds from schools; the amendment was adopted and the committee voted in favor of the bill.
Committee members asked ADE to ensure the bill’s rules language excludes inappropriate uses of NSLP funds and to coordinate with districts on implementation timing.
