18A:6-149 Professional development program established, literacy instruction, Department of Education.

197 words·~1 min read·/nj/title-18a/chapter-6/18a-6-149

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

8. a. The Department of Education shall establish a professional development program regarding evidence-based foundational literacy instruction, which shall be available to all school districts at no cost. The program shall be made available to: teaching staff members serving students in preschool through grade six, including school library media specialists serving students in kindergarten through grade six; individuals serving multilingual learners and students with disabilities; and individuals holding an educational services certificate with a reading specialist endorsement, individuals holding an educational services certificate with an early literacy specialist endorsement, and individuals holding an educational services certificate with a speech-language specialist endorsement; and school administrators.

b. The program shall be differentiated by grade band. The program shall include, but is not limited to:

(1)for teaching staff members serving students in preschool through grade three:

(a)orthography;

(b)phonological and phonemic awareness;

(c)phonics;

(d)fluency; and

(e)vocabulary and comprehension;

(2)for teaching staff members serving students in grades four through six:

(a)the neurobiology of reading;

(b)advanced word study;

(c)fluency; and

(d)comprehension; and

(3)for school administrators: the design and implementation of high-quality literacy instruction in preschool through grade six.

L.2024, c.52, s.8.