2018 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 70. Schools
§70-1210.508B. Legislative findings - Purpose - Reading and math instruction time - Reading goal.

A. The Legislature finds that it is essential for children in the public schools to read early and well in elementary school. The Legislature further finds that clear and visible goals, assessments to determine the reading level at each elementary school, annual measurements of elementary school reading improvement, and accountability in each level of the educational system will result in a significant increase in the number of children reading at or above grade level.

B. The purpose of the Reading Sufficiency Act is to ensure that each child attains the necessary reading skills by completion of the third grade which will enable that student to continue development of reading skills and to succeed throughout school and life.

C. Each public school district in this state shall ensure that a majority of the instructional time each day of the school year in kindergarten through third grade is focused on reading and mathematics. The State Board of Education shall encourage school districts to integrate the teaching of the other curricular areas in the subject matter standards adopted by the Board with the instruction of reading and mathematics. All teachers of reading in the public schools in this state in kindergarten through third grade shall incorporate into instruction the five elements of reading instruction which are phonemic awareness, phonics, reading fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

D. The reading goal for Oklahoma public schools is as follows: By July 1, 2008, and each year thereafter, all third-grade students will read at or above grade level by the end of their third-grade year, excluding up to fifteen percent (15%) of those students who have an individualized education program (IEP), pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and excluding those students who are English language learners who have been determined not to be proficient in English as defined by a state-designated English proficiency assessment. To achieve the reading goal, each public elementary school shall:

1. Determine its baseline no later than September 1, 2005, which shall be the percentage of students reading at or above third-grade level as determined by the percentage of students scoring proficient or above on the third-grade assessment in reading, administered pursuant to Section 1210.508 of this title; and

2. Set and achieve annual improvement goals necessary to progress from the baseline established in 2005 to the reading goal by July 1, 2008. The annual improvement goals shall be included in the district's reading sufficiency plan required in Section 1210.508C of this title.

E. The State Board of Education shall recognize schools and districts that attain or make progress toward achieving the reading goal and shall provide technical assistance to schools and districts that do not make progress toward the reading goal. The district reading sufficiency plan shall be submitted to the State Board if the district has any schools that are not achieving the required annual improvement goals pursuant to this section.

Added by Laws 1997, c. 349, § 2, eff. July 1, 1997. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 421, § 1, eff. July 1, 2001; Laws 2004, c. 197, § 1, eff. July 1, 2004; Laws 2005, c. 431, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2005; Laws 2006, c. 16, § 78, emerg. eff. March 29, 2006; Laws 2006, c. 146, § 1, emerg. eff. May 12, 2006; Laws 2009, c. 456, § 9, eff. July 1, 2009; Laws 2011, c. 100, § 1; Laws 2014, c. 430, § 9, emerg. eff. June 5, 2014; Laws 2016, c. 360, § 6, eff. July 1, 2016.

NOTE: Laws 2005, c. 385, § 2 repealed by Laws 2006, c. 16, § 79, emerg. eff. March 29, 2006.