S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8320
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
November 27, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. JENSEN -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring certain
teachers who provide literacy instruction obtain a literacy endorse-
ment
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 3004 of the education law is amended by adding a
new subdivision 7 to read as follows:
7. (A) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, THE COMMISSIONER IS
AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO PRESCRIBE REGULATIONS ESTABLISHING A LITERACY
ENDORSEMENT AS A REQUIREMENT FOR ALL CERTIFIED TEACHERS WHO PROVIDE
LITERACY INSTRUCTION TO STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE FIVE.
SUCH REGULATIONS SHALL REQUIRE THAT TEACHERS RECEIVING CERTIFICATION ON
AND AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE WHO PROVIDE LITERACY
INSTRUCTION TO STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE FIVE OBTAIN A
LITERACY ENDORSEMENT WITHIN THREE YEARS OF RECEIVING CERTIFICATION. FOR
TEACHERS RECEIVING CERTIFICATION BEFORE JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND
TWENTY-FIVE, THE REGULATIONS SHALL REQUIRE SUCH TEACHERS RECEIVE A
LITERACY ENDORSEMENT ON OR BEFORE JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-
EIGHT. THE LITERACY ENDORSEMENT SHALL REQUIRE TEACHERS TO COMPLETE
EVIDENCE-BASED SCIENCE OF READING TRAINING AND OTHER COURSEWORK AS
DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND TO PASS A LITERACY INSTRUCTION
ASSESSMENT DEMONSTRATING THAT THE TEACHER IS CAPABLE OF:
(I) EFFECTIVELY TEACHING FOUNDATIONAL READING SKILLS, PHONEMIC AWARE-
NESS, PHONICS, FLUENCY, VOCABULARY AND COMPREHENSION;
(II) IMPLEMENTING READING INSTRUCTION USING HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL
MATERIALS; AND
(III) PROVIDING EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION AND INTERVENTIONS FOR STUDENTS
WITH READING DEFICIENCIES, INCLUDING STUDENTS WITH CHARACTERISTICS OF
DYSLEXIA.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13613-01-3
A. 8320 2
(B) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL REQUIRE THAT ON AND AFTER JANUARY FIRST,
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR, ALL APPROVED EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAMS IN
CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION INCLUDE COURSES NECES-
SARY TO OBTAIN A LITERACY ENDORSEMENT PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS
SUBDIVISION.
(C) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH A MEANS BY WHICH A SCHOOL
DISTRICT, AT THE REQUEST OF A TEACHER, MAY RECEIVE AN EXEMPTION TO THE
LITERACY ENDORSEMENT FOR THAT TEACHER BASED ON CLASSROOM OBSERVATIONS
AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT DATA DEMONSTRATING THE KNOWLEDGE OF LITERACY
INSTRUCTION PRESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.