RIGHT TO READ ACT Senate SponsorsSen. Kimberly A. Lightford-Laura Fine, David Koehler-John Connor, Darren Bailey, Adriane Johnson, Mattie Hunter, Patricia Van Pelt, Doris Turner, Terri Bryant, Elgie R. Sims, Jr., Rachelle Crowe-Christopher Belt and Laura M. Murphy 1/10/2023SenateSession Sine Die New Act105 ILCS 5/21B-30105 ILCS 5/21B-35Creates the Right to Read Act. Provides that the State Board of Education shall offer support: to each public school district to select evidence-based core reading instruction programs and implement them using structured literacy instruction; and to each early childhood, elementary, and special education teacher, reading specialist, literacy coach, and administrator to complete evidence-based training in teaching reading. Requires the State Board of Education to annually compile and post on its website information on the steps it has undertaken to support school districts to deliver high-quality, evidence-based literacy instruction, including a list of any Early Literacy Grant recipients, documentation of how the recipient allocated the funding to support improved literacy, and what evidence-based literacy curricula the recipient is utilizing. Amends the School Code. In provisions concerning educator testing, requires applicants seeking specified licenses to pass a test in reading foundations, which shall include assessment of the applicant's understanding of phonological and phonemic awareness, concepts of print and the alphabetic principle, the role of phonics in promoting reading development, word analysis skills and strategies, vocabulary development, application of reading comprehension skills and strategies, and methods for assessing reading development. In provisions concerning minimum requirements for educators trained in other states or countries, provides that an applicant who has successfully completed a reading foundations test of at least comparable rigor to the Illinois reading foundations test is not required to complete a reading foundations test. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to:105 ILCS 5/21B-20Replaces everything after the enacting clause with provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Makes changes to the General Assembly's findings. Makes changes concerning the support offered by the State Board of Education to a public school district to select evidence-based core reading instruction programs and implement them. Makes changes concerning the support offered by the State Board of Education to each early childhood, elementary, and special education teacher, reading specialist, literacy coach, higher education faculty member, and administrator to complete evidence-based training in teaching reading, including creation of a tool that school districts and the public may use to evaluate professional development and training programs (instead of the creation of an advisory list of rigorous professional development programs). Further amends the School Code. Requires that, before October 1, 2023, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the State Educator Preparation and Licensure Board, review and, as needed, amend its professional licensure standards to align with the principles of evidence-based literacy instruction. Makes changes to the amendatory provisions concerning educator testing, including requiring that applicants seeking specified licenses pass a test in reading foundations after October 1, 2025. Makes changes concerning the minimum requirements for educators trained in other states or countries, including providing that applicants must complete coursework concerning evidence-based methods of reading that include explicit and repeated focus on phonemic awareness, a systematic approach to phonics (decoding), spelling instruction (encoding), vocabulary development, including morphology, reading fluency, oral language development, and reading comprehension, including syntax and background (content) knowledge. Effective immediately. 1/21/2022SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford 1/21/2022SenateFirst Reading 1/21/2022SenateReferred to Assignments 2/1/2022SenateAssigned to Education 2/1/2022SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura Fine 2/3/2022SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. David Koehler 2/7/2022SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Kimberly A. Lightford 2/7/2022SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments 2/7/2022SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. John Connor 2/8/2022SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Education 2/8/2022SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted 2/9/2022SenateDo Pass as Amended Education; 013-000-000 2/9/2022SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading February 10, 2022 2/10/2022SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Darren Bailey 2/15/2022SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Adriane Johnson 2/16/2022SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Mattie Hunter 2/16/2022SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Patricia Van Pelt 2/16/2022SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Doris Turner 2/16/2022SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Terri Bryant 2/16/2022SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Elgie R. Sims, Jr. 2/22/2022SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Rachelle Crowe 2/23/2022SenateAdded as Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Christopher Belt 2/25/2022SenateAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Laura M. Murphy 2/25/2022SenateRule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As March 11, 2022 3/11/2022SenateRule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As March 25, 2022 3/25/2022SenateRule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As April 8, 2022 5/10/2022SenatePursuant to Senate Rule 3-9(b) / Referred to Assignments 1/10/2023SenateSession Sine Die