161.239. Home reading program — definitions — fund created, use of moneys — program conditions.

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161.239. Home reading program — definitions — fund created, use of moneys — program conditions. — 1. For purposes of this section, the following terms mean:

(1)"Department" , the department of elementary and secondary education;

(2)"Local educational agency" , as such term is defined in section 161.1085 .

2. There is hereby created in the state treasury the "Elementary Literacy Fund", which shall consist of moneys appropriated by the general assembly from general revenue and any gifts, bequests, or donations. The state treasurer shall be custodian of the fund. In accordance with sections 30.170 and 30.180 , the state treasurer may approve disbursements. The fund shall be a dedicated fund and money in the fund shall be used solely for the purpose of providing grants to local educational agencies for home reading programs as provided in this section.

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 to the contrary, any moneys remaining in the fund at the end of the biennium shall not revert to the credit of the general revenue fund. The state treasurer shall invest moneys in the fund in the same manner as other funds are invested. Any interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be credited to the fund.

3. The general assembly shall annually appropriate to the fund an amount not to exceed five million dollars. The department shall develop a process by which a local educational agency may apply for a grant from the fund for an eligible home reading program that meets the conditions set forth in subsection 4 of this section, provided that the local educational agency shall match any such funds if such funds are granted.

4. A home reading program shall be considered eligible for a grant from the fund if the program is provided by a nonprofit organization that meets all of the following conditions:

(1)The program's objective is to deliver an evidence-based reading program consisting of books that are individually mailed to the residences of students in kindergarten to grade five following the selection of such books by such students, provided that each student shall be allowed to select books that he or she can read on his or her own with ease;

(2)The program incorporates at least weekly phone calls, texts, or application notifications in multiple languages to the parent or guardian of each participating student to increase parental and family engagement throughout the duration of the program;

(3)The program provides at least six, but not more than nine, student-selected new books that students are allowed to keep;

(4)The program builds on pedagogical and literacy principles to improve reading comprehension with student exercises;

(5)The program includes a customizable portal that generates individualized data reports for analysis of student progress;

(6)The program collects, disaggregates, and distributes detailed data on all metrics of the program, such as parental engagement, books read, and demographic data;

(7)The program provides summary data to the general assembly and to the department for all students served by the program;

(8)The program provider agrees to secure the required matching funds from the local educational agency, to maintain verification of the receipt of such matching funds, and to provide such verification in the event of an audit; and

(9)The combined total cost of the program, including matching funds from the local educational agency, does not exceed sixty dollars per student per semester.

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(L. 2024 S.B. 727)