G.S. 115C-83.4 — Read to Achieve

Plain English summary

The State Board of Education is required to create, carry out, and regularly update a comprehensive plan to improve reading in public schools, based on research-proven instructional practices. Teachers, college educators, and parents must be actively involved in developing the plan. Every two years, the State Board must report to a legislative oversight committee on how the plan is working and recommend any needed changes.

Key requirements

• State Board of Education must develop, implement, and continuously evaluate a comprehensive plan for reading achievement based on strong empirical research — G.S. 115C-83.4(a)
• Plan development must actively involve teachers, college and university educators, parents and guardians, and other interested parties — G.S. 115C-83.4(a)
• Plan must include, when appropriate, revisions to the standard course of study or other curricular standards, teacher licensure and renewal standards, and teacher education program standards — G.S. 115C-83.4(a)
• State Board of Education must report biennially to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by October 15 of each even-numbered year on implementation, evaluation, and revisions to the plan — G.S. 115C-83.4(b)
• Biennial report must include recommendations for legislative changes to enable implementation of current empirical research in reading development — G.S. 115C-83.4(b)

Affected parties

• State Board of Education (must comply)
• Teachers (must be involved in plan development; affected by licensure and renewal standard revisions)
• College and university educators (must be involved in plan development; affected by teacher education program standard revisions)
• Parents and guardians of students (must be actively involved in plan development)
• K-12 public school students (benefit from improved reading instruction)

Advocacy note

The mandate to revise teacher licensure, renewal, and education program standards 'when appropriate to reflect research' gives the State Board authority to require Science of Reading-aligned preparation for all public school teachers — creating a lever for systemic instructional change beyond any single school or district.

Official source

https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/PDF/BySection/Chapter_115C/GS_115C-83.4.pdf