Science-based reading instruction is defined as instruction that is systematic and explicit and consists of all the following:

• Phonological awareness
• Phonemic awareness
• Phonics
• Building background knowledge
• Oral language development
• Vocabulary building
• Instruction in writing
• Instruction in comprehension
• Reading fluency

“Three-cueing” means any model, including the model referred to as meaning, structure, and visual cues, or MSV, of teaching a pupil to read based on meaning, structure and syntax, and visual cues or memory.

Many teachers also refer to cueing as MSV, an acronym that stands for each of the three sources of information: meaning, structure/syntax, and visual.

Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, the law requires schools to assess and communicate the early literacy skills of pupils in four-year-old kindergarten to third grade. AIMSweb is the state mandated assessment screener that all public schools are required utilize.

ACT 20 requires schools to create a personal reading plan for each student in five-year-old kindergarten to third grade who is identified as at-risk based on a universal screening assessment.

• Under the bill, “at-risk” means the student scored below the 25th percentile on an applicable screening assessment, AIMSweb .
• Reading reports must be sent home and shared with families after the early literacy assessment is given
• Individual Reading plans are reviewed every ten weeks.

Under the bill, all kindergarten to third grade teachers, principals of schools that offer grades kindergarten to three, and reading specialists receive professional development training in science-based early literacy instruction by no later than July 1, 2025.

Act 20 requires that students who are on a personal reading plan receive an offer of additional services such as intensive summer reading programs when the students fail to complete their personal reading plan by the end of third grade. This summer school intensive reading program begins the summer of 2026.

Intensive summer reading programming is offered by invitation only for students finishing 3rd grade.

REQUIREMENT: Science-Based Early Literacy Instruction in Both Universal and Intervention Settings

SHIFT: BASD utilizing science-based early literacy resources and instructional practices

• Adoption of Amplify CKLA in 5K-5th Grade during 2024-2025 school year (State approved early literacy curricula, 2024)
  • Skills Focus: Phonological awareness, Phonemic awareness, Phonics, Instruction in writing, Instruction in comprehension. Oral language development, & Reading fluency
  • Knowledge Focus: Building background knowledge, Vocabulary building, Oral language development
• Use of Heggerty Literacy Instruction 4K-2nd grade for Phonemic Awareness & early literacy development

REQUIREMENT: Prohibited Use of Three-Cueing or MSV Instruction

SHIFT: BASD removed of three-cueing and MSV instruction

Removed Lucy Calkins Units of Study from universal, classroom instruction (Reading and writing workshop model).

REQUIREMENT: State Mandated Early Literacy Assessment (AIMSweb )

SHIFT: BASD implementation of AIMSweb Literacy screener (2024)

• BASD screens all students 4K-3rd grade using the AIMSweb literacy screener to identify literacy needs in the fall, winter, and spring.
• BASD teachers and reading specialists use screener data to meet the needs to all students.
• BASD teachers and reading specialists use screener data to develop personal reading plans.

REQUIREMENT: Personal Reading Plans & Family Communication

SHIFT: BASD creates and communicates personal reading plans

• A personal reading plan is created for all students who score below the 25th percentile on the AIMSweb literacy screener.
• Reading plans are communicated with families after assessments are been given.
• Individual reading plans are reviewed every ten weeks
• Students who have a reading plan are regularly progress monitored.

REQUIREMENT: State approved training for all K-3 teachers, EL teachers, reading specialists, and administrators initiated by 2025. 

SHIFT: BASD Early Literacy Training for Teachers & Administrators

• All administrators have taken the AIMS Pathway to Literacy Leadership course (DPI approved training).
• All K-3rd grade classroom teachers, Reading Specialists, English Language (EL) teachers, and Special Education teachers will be highly trained in early literacy by completing the professional development requirements through Keys to Literacy Training between starting in 2024.